JACKSON 


iliiiiijll 


"Mir 

:    !  s    II  > 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


Pittenger  (Wm.) 
Daring  and  Suffering:  A  History  of  the 
Andrew's  Railroad  Raid  into  Georgia  in 
1862,  embracing  a  full  and  accurate 
account  of  the  secret  journey  to  the  heart 
of  the  Confederacy.  lllus.  8vo.  468pp. 
N.  Y..    1887 -   -- 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2008  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofjaOOwils 


{SECOND  EDITION) 

THE 

EARLY   HISTORY   OF 

JACKSON  COUNTY 

GEORGIA 

"The  Writings  of  the  Late  G.  J.  N.  Wilson,  embracing  some  of  the  Early 
History  of  Jackson  County." 


THE  FIRST  SETTLERS,  1784 


FORMATION  AND  BOUNDARIES  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME 


RECORDS  OF  THE  TALASEE  COLONY 


STRUGGLES  OF  THE  COLONIES  OF 

YAMACUTAH,  GROANING  ROCK,  FORT  YARGO, 

STONETHROW  AND  THOMOCOGGAN 


Given  in  Narrative  Style  without  Burdening  the  Reader 

with  Dates  Hard  to  Remember 

Bg  G.  J.  N.  WILSON 


With  Supplement  giving  a  list  of  Officers  of  the  County,  1796  to  1914 

Judges  of  the  Inferior  Court  Jackson  County's  Part  in  the  Civil  War 

Confederate  Veterans  in  the  County 

Representatives  and  Senators  from  Jackson,  1799  to  1914 

And  Some  Strange  Records  by  Editor 

Edited  and  Published  by 
W.  E.  WHITE 


Copvright  1914  bo  W.  E.   White 


rOOTB  a    DAVICS    CO. 
ATLANTA 


THE  EARLY  HISTORY 

OF 

JACKSON  COUNTY,  GEORGIA 

By  G.  J.  N.  WILSON 


DEDICATION 

In  full  appreciation  of  their  kindness  and  in  glad  memory  of  their  unselfish 
services,  this  narrative  of  a  begone  age  ia 

LO  VINGL  Y  DEDICA  TED  TO 
MY  FRIENDS. 


RECOMMENDATIONS. 

We,  the  committee  appointed  by  the  teachers  at  their  regular 
monthly  meeting  in  April,  to  examine  the  manuscripts  of  the  late 
G.  J.  N,  Wilson,  with  a  view  to  seeing  whether  or  not  any  part  or 
parts  can  be  used  as  a  History  of  Jackson  County,  beg  leave  to 
make  the  following  report : 

That  we,  as  a  committee,  recommend  that  the  manuscripts  be 
published  as  ''The  Writings  of  the  late  G.  J.  N.  Wilson,  em- 
bracing some  of  the  Early  History  of  Jackson  County." 

Jefferson,  Ga.,  July  4,  1913. 

J.  E.  J.  LORD,  Chairman,  Ex-Member  Legislature, 
J.  A,  CROOK,  Principal  Plain  View  High  School, 
W.  H.  MALEY,  Member  Board  of  Education, 
LUTHER  ELROD,  Supt.  I'ublic  Schools,  Jackson  County, 
J.  N.  ROSS,  Member  Board  of  Education. 

Committee. 

On  August  29,  1913,  the  Board  of  Education  of  Jackson  County 
in  meeting  assembled,  unanimously  concurred  in  the  above  recom- 
mendation. 

J.  C.  TURNER,  President. 

LUTHER  ELROD,  Secretary. 


az. 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE. 

"My  friend,  if  I  fail  to  get  my  book  out  before  the  Master  calls, 
I  want  you  to  promise  me,  now,  that  you  will  see  that  it  is  pub- 
lished." 

In  obedience  to  the  above  request,  made  some  six  months  be- 
fore the  death  of  the  late  Hon.  G.  J.  N.  Wilson,  the  Editor  is 
offering  this  work  to  the  public. 

It  has  been  no  small  task  to  take  up  the  manuscripts  of  a  dead 
man,  these,  too,  at  different  dates,  and  assemble  them  in  the  order 
that  one  would  suppose  the  author  intended.  He  left  no  instruc- 
tions whatever  and  but  one  explanation,  and  that  concerned  the 
Talasee  Colony.  Mr.  Wilson  stated  that  when  a  small  boy,  he 
S  had  a  "liking  for  scribbling."  That  a  descendant  of  the  Talasee 
people  lived  near  his  father's  home  and  they  very  kindly  allowed 
tv,  him  to  use  the  old  papers  as  a  copy.  This  he  did  as  mere  pas- 
in  time,  it  never  once  occuring  to  him  then  that  these  papers  would 
g  be  found  useful.  A  few  days  after  the  papers  were  returned  the 
neighbor's  house  burned. 

Thus  does  God  verify  His  saying,  "And  a  little  child  shall  lead 
3  them."  Through  the  work  of  a  little  boy  these  records  have  been 
^      saved  from  oblivion.     We  can  learn  a  few  things  about  hoAV  the 

2  first  settlers  began  the  work  of  redeeming  the  forest  and  building 
^     homes  in  the  garden  spot  of  all  Georgia. 

3  We  have  made  just  as  few  changes  as  possible,  leaving,  as  it 
were,  "the  author  in  his  work,"  even  to  the  peculiar  manner  of 
spelling  some  words. 

After  having  traveled  more  than  500  miles,  from  place  to  place, 
verifying  what  was  stated,  and  finding  dates,  places  and  people 
just   as   described   in  the   manuscript,   we   feel   that   no   higher 

9 


448136 


encomium  can  be  paid  the  author  than  to  say,  **What  is  written, 
is  written." 

In  the  Supplement  to  this  work  the  reader  will  find  what  we 
believe  will  interest  as  well  as  instruct. 

We  wish  to  thank  the  many  friends  that  have  been  so  ready  to 
help  by  allowing  us  the  use  of  their  libraries,  and  also  for  the 
words  of  encouragement  spoken  by  those  who  hope  to  see  our 

county  at   the   front. 

W.  E.  WHITE. 
Jefferson,  Ga.,  March,  1914. 


10 


'I'm-:  lloMK  OF  THi:  "(H.d  (tExeeal. 


THE  LIFE  OF  GUSTAVUS  JAMES  NASH  WILSON. 

On  October  the  16th,  1827,  was  born  a  baby  boy,  near  what  is 
now  the  beautiful  little  city  of  Commerce,  Jackson  County.  He 
was  named  Gustavus  James  Nash  Wilson  and  was  destined  to 
make  a  mark  in  the  world. 

He  belonged  to  a  family  living  in  the  county  when  it  was  or- 
ganized in  1796  and  subsequently  prominent  in  its  political,  busi- 
ness and  social  affairs.    . 

He  was  a  grandson  of  George  Wilson,  a  leading  citizen  of  the 
pioneer  days  of  Jackson  County  and  one  who  made  the  original 
draft  of  the  first  constitution  of  the  state  of  Georgia. 

George  Wilson  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  county  and 
was  an  elder  in  the  first  Presbyterian  church  organized  in  this 
part  of  the  State.  James,  a  son,  married  Miss  Martha  Bowles, 
daughter  of  another  old  settler,  and  they  were  the  parents  of 
the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

The  father  was  a  farmer  and  a  brave  soldier  in  the  wars  of 
1812  and  the  Indian  troubles  of  1836.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his 
son,  G.  J.  N.  Wilson,  near  Pentecost  Church,  on  March  19,  1870, 
aged  eighty-three  years.  Mr.  G.  J.  N.  Wilson  then  lived  in  the 
Flannigan  house,  where  Mrs.  Amanda  Finch  now  resides. 

In  the  youthful  days  of  Mr.  Gustavus  Wilson  educational  ad- 
vantages were  few.  The  "old-field"  schools,  and  here  and  there 
a  private  academy,  furnished  the  mental  training  of  the  masses. 
In  the  former  Mr.  Wilson's  natural  love  for  learning  was  nurtured 
until  his  mind  was  prepared  to  guide  it  into  channels  of  self 
education.  He  was  from  childhood  a  hard  and  thorough  student, 
ever  seeking  knowledge. 

At  thirteen  years  of  age  he  was  so  far  advanced  that  he  was 
asked  to  teach  a  school  near  where  Commerce  now  is,  and  so 
eminent  were  his  qualifications  and  successful  was  he  in  the  work, 
that  he  taught  this  school  for  fourteen  successive  years.  He  was 
associated  with  other  schools  in  the  county,  and  was  at  the  head 

11 


of  some  of  the  most  prominent  institutions  of  the  county  in  ante- 
bellum days. 

In  May  1862,  Mr.  Wilson  left  his  profession  to  cast  his  lot  with 
the  Confederate  Army  as  an  officer  in  Company  E,  Thirty-fourth 
Georgia  Regiment. 

After  the  war  he  devoted  most  of  his  time  to  carpentry;  and 
was  thus  engaged  when,  in  1871,  he  was  elected  to  the  position  of 
County  School  Commissioner.  He  held  this  position  for  about 
30  years  in  succession. 

Mr.  Wilson  came  of  Scotch-Irish  descent ;  of  fine  mental  attain- 
ments and  possessed  a  physique  of  Herculenean  proportions. 

He  was  an  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  a  Chapter  Mason, 
also  an  Odd  Fellow. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  what  some  might  term  eccentric,  but  to  know 
him  was  to  love  him.  His  friendship  knew  no  bounds.  He  was  the 
same  to  all ;  the  high  or  the  low,  rich  or  poor  received  his  help  at 
all  times.  Hundreds  of  teachers  who  now  have  made  their  mark 
in  the  world,  can  look  back  to  the  time  when  they,  struggling  to 
rise,  would  have  given  up  in  despair  but  for  the  timely  aid  and 
sweet  sympathy  given  them  by  the  one  above  them — and  yet 
never  above,  for  the  Old  General  never  took  advantage  of  his 
position  as  Commissioner  to  "bully"  his  friends  or  teachers. 

He  could  boast  of  never  spending  an  idle  day  in  his  life,  always 
busy  with  mind  or  hand,  and  his  motto  was:  "Owe  no  man 
anything." 

In  his  official  capacity  he  never  cost  the  county  one  "nickel." 
He  even  furnished  his  own  office  and  office  fixtures  free  of  any 
cost  to  the  county  he  loved  so  well. 

By  using  "little  scraps  of  time,"  Mr.  Wilson  erected  one  of 
the  nicest  homes  in  the  city  of  Jefferson,  with  his  own  hands. 

The  Old  General,  as  his  friends  loved  to  call  him,  was  always 
at  home  to  his  host  of  friends;  and  many  a  time  strangers  could 
be  seen  looking  around  the  place  and  inspecting  the  many  inter- 
esting things  that  he  had  gathered  from  time  to  time.  These 
good  people  were  drawn  thither  by  some  chance  remark  made 
by  some  other  traveler,  maybe  in  a  distant  state,  as  to  how  they 
had  spent  the  time  when  "passing  through  the  city." 

12 


(Eight  here  let  it  be  understood  that  the  term,  "General,"  was 
not  a  title  nor  was  it  ever  used  as  such  by  Mr.  Wilson,  but  was 
only  a  "nickname,"  by  which  his  friends  addressed  him.) 

Mr.  Wilson  owned  one  of  the  finest  private  libraries  in  the 
State,  and  one  never  went  to  him  for  help,  intellectually,  and  went 
away  empty.  He  seldom  had  to  refer  to  his  books  but  had  the 
desired  information  at  the  "tip  of  his  tongue,"  so  to  speak.  He 
kept  up  with  the  political  movements  of  the  times,  but  never  at 
any  time  stooped  to  "dabble"  with  the  dirty  tricks  that  some- 
times curse  this  section  of  the  State. 

He,  like  many  another  good  man,  lived,  as  it  were,  before  his 
day,  and  his  worth  was  not  appreciated.  Even  since  his  death 
he  has  been  criticised  by  some  who  did  not  understand  him. 

He  was  loved  by  his  teachers  and  pupils  alike.  And  even  now 
one  can  hear  him  referred  to  as  "That  dear  old  Commissioner 
that  visited  our  school  when  I  was  a  little  tot." 

Mr,  Wilson  was  married  on  August  1,  1847,  to  Miss  Carrie 
Coleman,  They  had  two  children  to  bless  their  home,  Mr.  L.  C. 
Wilson  and  Mrs.  Maggie  Johnson. 

Gustavus  James  Nash  Wilson  died  on  the  28th  day  of  March, 
1909,  and  was  laid  to  rest  in  Woodbine  cemetery  in  the  city  of 
Jefferson,  Ga.  EDITOR. 


13 


CONTENTS. 

SECTION  I. 
Introduction. 

CHAPTER.  PAGE 

I.     Formation,  Boundaries,  etc 21 

II.     The  Country,  its  Inhabitants,  Forests,  Streams  and  Birds  33 
III.     Animals,    Together   with    some    Incidents   Eelating   to 

Them — The  Mysterious  Wog 43 

SECTION  II. 
The  Talasee  Colony. 

I.     First  Settlers  from  Effingham  County 51 

II.     Johnson  Josiah  Strong  Makes  a  Discovery  ....  60 

III.  The  White  Ladies  Visit  Adabor 71 

IV.  The  Identity  of  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo  is  Found  Out     .  82 
V.     The  Cherokee  Spy 93 

VI.     A  Number  of  New  Emigrants  Arrive 106 

VII.     The  Visit  to  Yamacutah  and  Return 119 

VIII.  The  Draper  and  Modin  Families  at  Snodon  ....  132 

IX.     The  Visit  to  Nodoroc 145 

X.  Trouble  at  Snodon  and  the  Arrival  of  More  Emigrants  162 

XI.  The  Cold  Winter  and  a  Visit  by  Governor  Matthews. 

The  Organization  for  Mutual  Protection  .      .      .  173 

SECTION  III. 
Yamacutah. 
I.     First  Settlers  at  Tumbling  Shoals  and  Related  Incidents     186 

SECTION  IV. 
The  Old-Time  Logrolling. 

I.     The  Log  is  Rolled 201 

II.     The  Dance  at  Dunson's  and  Preaching  at  the  School 

House 211 

III.  Brantly  Carries  His  Bride  to  Jeiferson 220 

IV.  Gabe  Nash  Spells  "Tizic" 228 

14 


SECTION  V. 

Cell  No.  21. 

chapter.  page 

I.     The  "A"  Family 238 

II.     Sidney  York  is  Arrested 243 

III.     York  is  Found  Guilty — Coatney's  Confession    .      .      .  247 

SECTION  VI. 
The  Hut  Owl  in  Borrowed  Feathers. 

I.     The  Reading  of  the  Poem  Opens  Their  Eyes       .      .      .  253 

SECTION  VII. 
The  Rebel  Girl. 

I.     The  Search  for  the  Rebel 261 

II.     The  Girl  in  the  Hollow  Tree 26G 

III.  A  Cousin  is  Discovered 274 

IV.  The  Rebel  Girl  is  Carried  Home 277 

SUPPLEMENT. 

Public  School  Officers  of  Jackson  County 285 

Harmony  Grove  Female  Academy,  1824 286 

Commissioners  Roads  and  Revenues 286 

Sheriffs 287 

Coroners 288 

Ordinaries 289 

Deputy  Sheriffs 289 

Clerks  Inferior  Court 290 

Tax  Receivers 290 

Treasurers 291 

Surveyors 291 

Tax   Collectors 291 

Clerks  Superior  Court 292 

Justices  of  the  Peace,  Notaries  Public,  and  Constables  in  1914  293 

Some  Queer  Things  Culled  from  Court  Records 294 

15 


PAGE 

Judges  Inferior  Court 298 

Courts  of  Jackson  County 301 

OflBcers  City  Court  of  Jefferson 303 

Board  Tax  Assessors 302 

Jackson  County's  Part  in  Civil  War 303 

Convention  of  1861 303 

Confederate  Veterans  Who  Enlisted  From  Jackson  ....  304 

Confederate  Soldiers  Living  in  Jackson  County 324 

Convention  of  1865 328 

Convention  of  1867-8 329 

Convention  of  1877 329 

Members  of  General  Assembly  from  Jackson  County    .      .      .  330 

Some  Strange  Old  Papers 333 

Health  and  Longevity  of  People 337 

Some  Facts  About  Jackson  County 339 


16 


A  List  of  the  Difficult  Indian  Names  Found  in  this  Book, 
Divided  into  Syllables  and  an  Explanation  as  to  What  They 
Belonged  To  in  the  Days  of  the  First  Settlements. 

Po-ca-tal-i-go  was  the  name  used  by  the  Indians  for  Sandy 
creek;  Tish-ma-gu  was  Mulberry  river;  E-to-ho,  North  Oconee 
river;  Ith-l6-bee,  Middle  Oconee;  Pin-h5-lo-wah,  Turkey  creek; 
T6b-ke-s6-f6s-kee,  Curry's  creek;  Num-sa-c6-ta,  Hurricane  creek; 
Ca-hoo-ta-c6n-nough,  Double  branches;  Ja-ra-thog-gin,  Beaver 
creek;  Ip-se-quil-ta,  Cedar  Creek;  Yo-to-comp-sa,  Morgan's  creek; 
Tau-ru-la-boule,  Beech  creek;  Tip-toe,  Price's  Mountain,  on  the 
line  of  Hall;  Yam-a-cu-tah,  Tumbling  Shoals;  Yam-tra-hooeh-ee, 
Hurricane  Shoals;  Tal-a-pa-hoo,  Rock  ford;  O-ko-lo-co  Trail,  was 
on  the  western  side  of  the  county  (present  boundary)  and  passed 
through  Sno-don,  now  Winder;  La-c6-da  Trail  led  from  Augusta 
to  the  mountains,  passing  through  Groaning  Rock,  now  Commerce, 
thence  through  where  Maysville  now  is,  and  on  through  Stone- 
throw  (Gillsville),  to  the  Tallulah  and  Nacoochee  countries; 
Po-ga-nip,  Cedar  Hill;  N6-d6-roc,  the  mud  volcano,  that  the  In- 
dians thought  was  hell;  So-quil-las,  meant  horses;  U-mau-sau-ga, 
the  old  chief  that  lived  at  Tal-a-see  Shoals,  his  home  being  called 
A-da-bor;  E-to-hau-to  was  Umausauga's  brother;  Yr-tyr-myr-myr- 
mys-co  and  Wo-k6-16g  were  two  Indian  bucks ;  I-ro  and  Al-bo-rak, 
names  of  two  of  their  horses;  Ta-litch-lech-ee  was  the  name  of  a 
certain  man;  Yeth-a,  a  woman's  name;  Ra-do-a-ta,  was  a  battle- 
field near  Attica ;  Ar-har-ra,  another  battlefield  nearer  the  Tish- 
maugu;  0-no-c6-wah,  a  word  of  lament;  A-lo-tha,  the  Bell  spring; 
Lap-si-da-li,  the  woman  that  caused  trouble  between  the  Creeks 
and  Cherokees;  O-no-ma-co,  Lapsidali's  brother;  Nu-mer-a-do, 
the  old  battlefield  at  the  mouth  of  the  Niim-sa-c6-ta  creek; 
Shiil-ta-mo6-zaw,  an  Indian  village  where  Black's  Creek  church 
now  stands;  Hti-a-na-eo,  the  name  of  a  certain  Cherokee  messen- 
ger; Bo-hu-ron,  the  place  where  Oconee  Heights  is  situated; 
Neg-li-gole  was  the  Indians.'  word  for  renegade ;  Ta-ta  changed  his 
name  to  Nyx-ter  when  he  became  a  spy  among  the  Bo-hu-rons; 
E-lan-cy-dyne  was  the  Cherokee's  queen  until  she  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Arharra;  £l-tro-va-dyne,  the  orphaned  daughter  of 

17 


Elancydyne.  She  was  found  on  the  field  of  Arharra  and  became 
the  adopted  daughter,  Ban-na,  of  old  Umausauga;  Ra-mo-ja  and 
Emefila  meant  a  festival  known  as  the  Corn  dance ;  Ilo-no-ras 
were  men  among  the  Creeks  that  correspond  to  our  present  day 
sheriffs;  Ne-re  Na-ra  and  Nu-ru-lyn,  names  of  two  girls; 
Th6m-o-c6g-gan,  the  present  city  of  Jefferson  was  once  so  called ; 
Hooch-le-6-h6o-pah,  a  certain  man's  name;  No-din  was  the  name 
of  a  man  who  lived  at  Sno-don ;  We-tump-ka,  Columbus,  Ga. ; 
O-ko-ko-bee,  a  Creek  chief  over  the  Ufallayak  division  of  the 
nation  and  was  the  father  of  Umausauga,  El-to-mu-ra  and 
Etohauto ;  Ne-na-the-ma-ho-la,  successor  to  Okokobee ;  Si-lo-quot 
of  Ha-i-tau-thu-ga,  near  Fort  Yargo,  was  a  spy  and  whose  com- 
panions were  E-lI-to-boy,  Ca-mas-too-ka  and  N5-vu-ar-ka; 
0-k5-le-gee,  the  old  chief  that  lived  on  Tip-toe;  I-no-ma-tu-ha-ta 
lived  on  Pea  Ridge;  I-no-ma-taw-tun-sig-na  lived  at  what  is 
now  known  as  the  Arnold  old  mill  place.  These  three, 
Okolegee,  Inomatuhata  and  Inomatawtunsigna  together  with 
Talasee  were  all  chiefs  and  were  among  the  fourteen  In- 
dian chiefs  that  signed  the  treaty  at  Augusta  that  gave  Jackson 
County  the  "Wofford  Settlements."  Al-a-pa-ha  and  his  daughter, 
tj-ni-coy,  lived  near  Yamtrahooehee.  Wau-to-wau-to  was  the 
chief  that  stole  Flora  Clover  and  Susan  Bingham  at  the  shoals  and 
a  little  later  killed  Dr.  Henry  Therrauld  at  the  battle  of 
Nau-ha-ta.  EDITOR. 


18 


INTRODUCTORY. 

"The  very  generations  of  the  dead 
Are  swept  away,  and  tomb  inherits  tomb, 
Until  the  memory  of  an  age  is  fled, 
And,  buried,  sinks  beneath  its  offspring's  doom." 

— Don  Juan. 

In  the  absence  of  written  history  one  wave  of  human  life 
sweeps  over  another  until  the  achievements  of  the  past  become 
wholly  unknown,  save  such  as  are  lodged  in  the  generous  bosom 
of  mother  earth  or  transmitted  from  father  to  son  as  in  the  days 
before  the  flood. 

The  pioneers  of  this  country  cared  little  for  written  history. 
To  make  a  record  of  local  events  or  of  the  men  and  measures 
of  the  times  perhaps  never  entered  their  minds.  Even  official 
documents  were  vague  in  meaning,  and  often  destroyed  as  soon 
as  used.  Stones  that  have  been  buried  beneath  the  accumulated 
dust  of  ages  give  us  an  account  of  some  of  the  leading  nations  of 
antiquity  as  full  as  anything  that  can  be  found  concerning  the 
first  settlement  of  this  immediate  part  of  the  country.  Indeed, 
the  generations  which  followed  have  been  greatly  deficient  in 
this  respect. 

It  was  long  after  the  first  white  settlers  came  to  Jackson 
County  before  the  people  could  spare  their  children  from  work, 
or  procure  the  means  to  send  them  to  school.  The  first  staple 
production  was  tobacco ;  and  if  the  children  of  to-day,  arrayed  in 
their  splendid  outfit  for  school  purposes,  could,  for  one  moment, 
know  how  much  hard  work  was  necessary  to  prepare  the  un- 
broken forests  for  cultivation  amidst  threatening  dangers  on 
every  side,  and  imagine  the  filthiness  of  killing  tobacco  worms, 
pulling  off  the  "suckers,"  topping  of  the  plants,  cutting,  curing, 
stripping  the  leaves  from  the  stalks,  and  the  hard  labor  necessary 
to  send  it  to  market  in  "rolling  hogsheads"  they  would  stand  in 
utter  amazement  at  the  great  difference  between  then  and  now, 
and  no  longer  wonder  why  their  ancestors  did  not  go  to  school, 
nor  have  time  to  read  and  write. 

But  if  they  did  not  attend  school,  knowledge  was  acquired  by 
intensity   of  action,  by  observation   and  reflection,  rather  than 

19 


from  books.  They  were  too  busy  making  the  way  to  the  ends  of 
life  to  write  incidents  on  the  wayside.  Thus  it  was  that  through 
the  eventful  decades  of  more  than  a  century  generations  have 
come  and  gone  without  leaving  any  record  to  let  the  world  know 
that  they  had  ever  lived  in  it. 

To  secure  from  oblivion  what  is  known  of  their  history,  now 
fast  fading  away  through  the  already  dim  vista  of  time,  is  the 
object  of  these  pages.  They  are  written  at  the  solicitation  of 
friends  for  whose  opinions  the  writer  has  the  most  profound  re- 
spect. They  claim  no  literary  merit,  but  absolute  originality. 
Having  no  companion  nor  guide  to  direct  him,  he  travels  alone 
amid  the  shadows  of  the  long-gone  past.  And  yet  they  are  not 
dreary. 

To  a  limited  extent  the  narrative  is  drawn  from  documentary 
evidence,  partly  from  memory,  and  largely  from  tradition.  Ke- 
garding  some  incidents  there  is  a  ditference  of  opinion;  but  in 
such  cases  the  most  reliable  authorities  have  been  followed.  Many 
of  the  dates  given  are  correct ;  others  are  approximate  and  where 
this  could  not  be  done,  none  are  given.  The  writer  does  not 
claim  to  be  free  from  all  error.  G,  J.  N.  W. 

Jefferson,  Ga.,  Sept.,  1906, 


2(i 


CHAPTER  I. 

Formation  and  Boundaries — Changes  Made  to  Bring  the  County 
Down  to  Its  Present  Limits — Some  Incidents  by  the  Way. 

In  1784,  when  Northeast  Georgia  was  a  wilderness,  inhabited 
by  wild  animals  and  wilder  men,  with  here  and  there  a  few  white 
settlements  from  two  to  three  days'  journey  apart,  Franklin* 
County,  was  laid  out  in  order,  as  the  Act  to  form  it  declared,  "to 
strengthen  the  State,  and  for  the  convenience  of  the  inhabitants." 
Its  area  was  extensive,  "beginning,"  continues  the  Act,  "at  Sa- 
vannah river,  where  the  west  lines  of  Wilkes  county  strikes  the 
same;  thence  along  the  said  line  to  the  Cherokee  corner;  from 
thence  on  the  same  direction  to  the  south  branch  of  the  Oconee 
river ;  thence  up  the  said  river  to  the  head  or  source  of  the  most 
southern  stream  thereof;  thence  along  the  temporary  line,  separa- 
ting  the    Indian    hunting    ground    to   the    northern    branch    of 

*Prof.  E.  P.  Brooks'  "History  of  Georgia,"  Pages  143  and  182. 

Note:  We  quote,  here,  from  "First  Settlers  of  Upper  Georgia,"  Pages 
333  to  335,  by  Gov.  George  E.  Gilmer,  extracts  from  a  letter,  written  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  concerning  the  Indian  troubles,  a  few  years 
prior  to  their  removal  to  the  West.  In  this  letter,  written  by  a  gentleman 
who  had  resided  in  or  near  the  "Broad  Eiver  Settlement,"  now  Oglethorpe 
County,  all  his  life,  we  find  many  facts  as  to  the  location  of  the  Creek  and 
Cherokee  Indians  in  this  part  of  Georgia. 

"Executive  Department,  Milledgeville,  Dec.   29,   1829. 

"Independent  of  any  knowledge  derived  from  individuals,  it  is  probable 
that  we  could  have  accounted  for  the  change  of  possessions  of  the  disputed 
territory  from  the  Creeks  to  the  Cherokees,  from  the  alteration  of  the  habits 
of  life  which  has  been  for  a  long  time  taking  place  in  both  tribes.  Within 
the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  gradually  became 
less  and  less  capable  of  subsisting  by  hunting.  Very  many  of  the  half- 
breeds  of  each  tribe  exchanged  hunting  for  herding.  But  even  these  were 
but  little  accustomed  to  provide,  by  cultivating  the  earth,  food  for  the  sup- 
port of  their  cattle  during  the  winter,  but  rather  trusted  to  the  cane  and 
other  natural  productions.  Both  tribes  therefore  inclined  to  progress  to  the 
south,  where  the  lands  on  the  streams  were  richer,  and  the  cane  more 
capable  of  sustaining  their  cattle.  That  portion  of  the  Cherokee  tribe  in 
particular,  who  inhabited  the  high  mountains,  cold  and  sterile  country 
about  the  head  waters  of  the  Savannah  and  the  Chattahoochee,  were  dis- 
posed to  leave  it  to  one  further  to  the  south,  and  more  suitable  to  the 
change  that  was  taking  place  in  their  habits.     The  truth  of  this  opinion  is 

21 


Sic: 


n 


lihirovw     jr\ 


iii£^ 


'-f. 


t^ 


v^s 


^CTy 


it'tM 


W'/ldfd 


X. 


'<^ 


■«><o 


;^ 


-^ 


nuyneyti^dS. 


tt< 


^t' 


/fVt? 


e'S 


m^- 


K 


^J'fiso^eMX^^L. 


-l>yt<i 


lOCOQ^'^ft- 


'^r 


'^1 


vP>/ 


?jfvb5 /re  5  0  ?o£^eJi?  : )  ;t 


^^^ 


e>> 


.^, 


C  urr 


'Cc^  ^>~> 


.rt) : 


.r-<7/? 


HockPe 


■e  re 


'^>?T 


le. 


*r- 


.r^J 


i»^?&- 


Ucre 


/ioclo(it<t 


trr 


0^ 


^o^, 


''jy,  nodoT-oQ 


^>>"j 


Pi^arji 


iY 


■<:)' 


L 


MAP  OF  JACKSON  COUNTY,  GEORGIA 

Showing  the  location  of  the  different  places  mentioned  in  the 

Early  History  of  Jackson  County,  with  both 

the  Indian  and  modern  names. 

Present  boundary 

lines,  1914. 


22 


Savannah  river  known  by  tke  name  of  Keowee,  and  down  the 
said  river  to  the  beginning." 

t  Previously  to  the  formation  of  this  large  county,  the  state  had 
no  organized  means  of  protecting  its  citizens,  who  had  emigrated 
thither  from  Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  the  "Broad  River 
Settlement,"  in  Wilkes.  They  had  suffered  much,  not  only  from 
the  merciless  native  Indians,  but  also  from  heartless  Tories,  who, 
under  Champ  Moore,  the  notorious  Tory  leader,  often  passed 
through  the  country.  Though  this  state  of  affairs  existed  for 
some  years  after  the  organization  of  Franklin  County,  the  popu- 
lation so  greatly  increased  during  the  next  twelve  years,  that  the 
people,  living  in  the  southern  part,  [it  might  be  more  nearly  cor- 
rect to  say  southwestern],  made  application  for  another  new 
county. 

Accordingly,  in  1796,  when  Jared  Irwin  was  governor  and  Capt. 
James  Terrill  represented  Franklin  County  in  the  legislature. 
Jackson  County,  the  twenty-second  formed  in  the  State,  was  cut 
from  Franklin.    The  Act  establishing  its  boundaries  bears  date  of 

t  Geo.  G.  Smith  says,  ' '  There  was  up  to  1792  great  danger  from  Indian 
forays,  and  the  scattered  inhabitants  lived  much  of  the  time  in  block- 
houses."    P.  153.— Ed. 

verified  by  the  talk  delivered  by  the  Cherokees  in  1808,  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  in  which  they  represent  the  scarcity  of  game  in  that 
part  of  their  country,  and  the  intention  to  leave  it.  In  addition  to  the 
superior  advantages  of  a  more  southern  country  for  the  support  of  their 
cattle  was  added  the  inducement  of  approaching  nearer  their  markets, 
rendered  important  by  the  increased  value  of  their  beef  and  hides. 

"It  is  probably  known  to  the  President,  from  personal  observation  that 
the  country  in  dispute  was  formerly  occupied  by  the  Creeks  entirely,  and 
that  they  gradually  relinquished  their  possession,  until,  at  the  close  of  the 
late  war,  there  were  very  few  of  the  tribe  remaining  in  it;  and  that,  at  the 
same  time,  and  in  the  same  manner,  the  Cherokees  by  degrees  obtained 
almost  entire  possession.  The  fact  that  all  the  streams  and  remarkable 
places  have  Creek  names  prove  certainly  that  it  was  but  lately  occupied 
by  the  Creeks,  and  that  there  has  been  no  general  and  simultaneous  transfer 
of  its  possessions  from  one  tribe  to  the  other,  and  that  the  Cherokees  must 
therefore  have  intermingled  with  the  original  inhabitants,  so  as  to  have 
adopted  their  proper  names.  The  Cherokees'  talk,  the  testimony  of  the 
Indians,  and  the  information  of  the  original  white  settlers  on  the  frontier, 
prove  that  this  occupation  of  the  country  by  the  Cherokees  was  permissible 
on  the  part  of  the  Creeks,  and  so  considered  by  the  Cherokees  until  1820, 
when  General  Mcintosh  procured  the  consent  of  the  Creeks  to  make  it  a 

23 


February  11th,  1796,  and  says:  "The  line  dividing  the  County  of 
Jackson  from  the  County  of  Franklin  shall  begin  on  the  south  of 
Broad  river  at  the  place  where  it  intersects  the  Counties  of  Ogle- 
thorpe and  Elbert;  from  thence  it  shall  run  up  to  the  head  or 
source  of  the  middle  fork,  it  being  the  main  stream ;  from  thence 
south  forty-five  degrees  to  the  main  ridge  which  divides  the  waters 
of  Broad  river  from  the  waters  of  the  Oconee;  thence  along  the 
said  river  to  the  temporary  or  western  line  of  Franklin  County; 
and  all  that  part  of  Franklin  lying  and  being  southwardly  of  the 
aforesaid  line,  shall  be  included  and  comprehended  in  the  County 
of  Jackson." 

Thus  it  seems  that  the  new  county  was  four  times  larger  than 
at  the  present  time,  and  included  several  places  which  have  since 
become  prominent  in  other  counties.  Josiah  Meigs,*  first 
President  of  Franklin  College,  now  the  State  University,  called 
his  first  class  to  order  in  Jackson  County. 

This  extensive  territory  was  called  after  Gen.  James  Jackson, 
of  revolutionary  fame,  and  not  for  Gen.  Andrew  Jackson  as  has 
sometimes  been  said.     Though  an  Englishman  by  birth,  no  other 

*" White's  Historical  Collections,"  says  "President  Meigs  commenced  the 
exercises  of  the  University  when  no  college  buildings  had  been  erected. 
Eecitations  were  often  heard  and  lectures  delivered  under  the  shade  of  the 
forest  oak,  etc."     P.  397.— Ed. 

matter  of  right.  The  country  was  said  to  have  been  loaned  by  the  Creeks 
to  the  Cherokees.  The  first  claim  of  the  right  to  possess  it  at  all,  on  the 
part  of  the  latter  tribe,  was  derived  by  success  at  a  ball-game,  at  which 
the  stake  was  the  disputed  country,  and  at  which  play  the  Cherokees  were 
successful.  This  ball-game  took  place  some  time  between  the  years  1816  and 
1820. 

' '  I  understand  that  the  President  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  United  States 
Government  is  bound,  by  its  contract  of  1802  with  Georgia,  as  well  as  upon 
general  principles,  to  permit  no  transfer  of  territory  after  that  time  from 
the  Creeks  to  the  Cherokees,  or  rather  to  disregard  any  contracts  which  may 
have  been  made  between  the  two  tribes.  The  Creeks  having  been  the  occu- 
pants of  the  country  in  1802,  and  having  parted  with  possession,  it  now 
belongs  to  Georgia,  as  the  rightful  owner  of  the  soil. 

************ 

"Georgia  considers  herself  entitled  to  immediate  possession  of  the  coun- 
try claimed,  but  is  willing  to  have  the  right  postponed  for  the  attainment 
f?  a  more  important  object.  If  that  object  is  not  affected  by  the  means 
adopted  during  the  present  session  of  Congress,  the  State  expects  that  the 
President  will,  so  far  as  his  own  power  extends,  do  her  justice,  by  having 

24 


man  was  ever  a  more  faithful  and  efficient  servant  of  Georgia 
than  James  Jackson.  No  "railing  accusation"  was  ever  brought 
against  him  except  that  he  was  accused  of  causing  Franklin  Col- 
lege to  be  located  in  Jackson  County  because  it  was  named  after 
him.  Mild  indeed ;  but  even  that  was  afterwards  shown  to  be 
utterly  false. 

For  a  period  of  nearly  five  years  the  original  lines  of  Jackson 
remained  undisturbed.  However,  the  steady  increase  of  popu- 
lation, and  the  location  of  the  State  School  where  Athens  now 
flourishes,  called  for  still  another  new  county.  Accordingly  by 
an  Act  approved  on  5th  of  December,  1801,  Clarke  County,  then 
including  Oconee,  was  cut,  largely  from  Jackson,  by  a  line  be- 
ginning "on  the  Appalachee  river  at  the  mouth  of  Marbury's 
creek;  thence  on  a  direct  line  to  Richard  Easley's  mill  (Talasee 
Shoals)  on  the  middle  fork  of  the  Oconee  river;  from  thence  on 
a  direct  line  to  where  the  Oglethorpe  line  crosses  the  north  fork 
of  Brush  creek;  thence  down  the  Oglethorpe  line  to  the  Appa- 
lachee river;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  beginning." 

Ten  years  passed  away  before  Jackson  was  again  called  on  for 
a  division  of  her  patrimony,  by  its  citizens  living  east  of  Big 
Sandy  creek.  By  taking  a  large  part  from  Jackson,  and  smaller 
portions  from  Oglethorpe,  Clarke,  Franklin  and  Elbert  Counties, 
Madison  County  was  formed  by  an  Act  approved  December  5th, 
1811,  and  by  "beginning  on  the  Clarke  County  line  on  the  ridge 
between  Bushy  and  Beaverdam  creek ;  thence  a  direct  line  to 
where  the  Jackson  County  line  crosses  Little  Sandy  creek ;  thence 
on  a  direct  line  to  the  fork  of  Big  Sandy  creek  above  Espy's 
Mill;  thence  up  the  eastern  fork  of  the  same  to  Knight's  old 
store;  thence  to  the  head  of  Black's  creek  in  such  manner  as  to 
leave  all  the  waters  of  Big  Sandy  creek  in  Jackson  County." 

the  Cherokees  removed  from  so  much  territory  as  is  included  in  the  treaty 
lately  made  with  the  Creeks. 

"These  remarks  are  submitted  to  the  President  with  sentiments  of  most 
respectful  consideration. 

"GEORGE  R.  GILMER." 
"To  the  President  of  the  United  States." 

—Editor. 

25 


The  western  boundary  of  Madison  as  above  given ;  being  some- 
what indefinite,  the  matter  Avas  not  settled  till  a  few  years  ago. 
The  loss  to  Jackson  by  the  formation  of  Madison  County  was  not 
as  great  in  territory  as  it  was  in  citizenship.  People  in  any  part 
of  the  country  with  first-class  citizens,  and  churches  and  schools, 
farms  and  shops,  and  all  pursuits  known  to  civilization,  will  pros- 
per and  be  perpetuated  upon  an  ascending  scale  from  generation 
to  generation. 

Still,  mother  Jackson  had  an  immense  territory  as  compared 
with  her  present  limits,  embracing  a  large  part  of  what  is  now 
Walton,  Gwinnett,  Hall  and  Banks  Counties.  Besides,  the  year 
after  Madison  was  formed,  the  usual  rule  was  reversed  by 
making  Jackson  larger. 

In  1785,  Col.  Hawkins,  the  United  States  agent  for  Indian  af- 
fairs, was  ordered  to  run  the  Franklin  line  from  the  Currahee 
to  the  head  of  the  Appalachee  river,  which  is  to  this  day  known 
as  the  Hawkins  line.  However,  the  Georgia  legislature  of  1812 
decided  that  Col.  Hawkins  did  not  run  the  line  **  agreeably  to 
the  true  spirit  and  interest  of  the  treaty  held  at  Augusta  on  the 
31st  of  May,  1783,  and  confirmed  by  the  treaty  at  Shoulderbone, 
in  1786 ;  but  left  on  the  Indian  side  certain  lands,  which,  by  the 
3rd  Section  of  the  4th  Article  of  the  Federal  constitution,  be- 
longed to  the  State  of  Georgia." 

In  pursuance  of  this  decision  Gov.  Rabun,  on  the  7th  of 
December,  1812,  signed  a  bill  adding  to  Jackson  County,  **all 
the  land  lying  west  and  northwest  of  the  Hawkins  line,  and  on 
the  waters  of  the  Oconee,  up  the  ridge  dividing  the  waters  of 
said  Oconee  from  the  waters  of  Chattahoochee  river,  commenc- 
ing at  a  point  on  the  line  run  by  Hugh  Montgomery,  where  the 
same  crosses  the  dividing  ridge,  between  Oconee  and  Broad 
rivers;  thence  along  said  ridge  a  southwest  direction  to  the  inter- 
section of  the  Hawkins  line." 

This  act,  which  is  hard  to  understand,  while  greatly  increa.sing 
the  territory  and  Indian  population  of  Jackson,  added  but  few 
whites,  most  of  whom  belonged  to  the  celebrated  "Wofford  Set- 

26 


tlement,"  now  in  Hall.  This  colony  of  pioneers  had  been  added 
to  Jackson  two  years  before ;  but  it  seems  that  the  State  govern- 
ment did  not  reach  them,  and  was  repealed  before  the  Act  of 
1812. 

The  Augusta  treaty  which  finally  gave  the  Wofford  Settlement 
to  Jackson,  was  signed,  with  a  cross,  by  fourteen  Indians;  and 
as  four  of  them  lived  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county, 
their  names  are  here  given  as  a  matter  of  curiosity : 

Talasee  King,  for  whom  the  Talasee  Shoals  are  named.  He 
lived  on  the  road  leading  from  the  shoals  to  Athens,  and  about 
midway  between  Prospect  Church  and  the  large  blackgum  tree 
which  marks  the  line  between  Jackson  and  Clarke  Counties. 

Okolegee,  a  prominent  friend  of  the  white  settlers.  His  wig- 
wam stood  on  top  of  Tiptoe,  now  known  as  Price's  Mountain, 
several  miles  above  the  present  Price  bridge,  and  where  a  battle 
was  fought  between  Confederate  and  Federal  troops  in  1864. 

Inomatuhata,  whose  home  was  on  Pea  Ridge,  north  of  Winder. 
He  lived  in  a  picturesque  house  made  of  the  branches  of  hickory 
trees,  carefully  intertwined  and  neatly  plastered  both  inside  and 
out,  with  a  light,  brick-colored  mortar,  the  mixture  of  which,  the 
writer  believes,  is  now  unknown.  The  roof  was  of  moss,  evi- 
dently taken  from  the  swamps  a  few  miles  to  the  south,  and 
growing,  soon  became  impervious  to  water. 

Inomatawtunsigna,  who  affixed  to  his  name  the  characteristic 
title  of  "Head  Warrior,"  lived  near  Arnold's  old  mill  on  Bear 
creek.  His  wigwam  was  of  the  common  form,  but  unusually 
substantial.  Though  not  an  avowed  friend  to  the  whites,  he  was 
conservative,  brave  and  intellectual. 

I-no-ma-tu-ha-ta  and  I-no-ma-taw  tun-sig-na  were  brothers, 
and  claimed  to  be  descendants  of  Mispenthe,  an  illustrious  war- 
rior of  a  former  age,  and  his  Queen,  Lutro,  the  "Moon  Spirit." 
It  is  not  known  that  either  of  the  brothers  left  a  namesake  to 
try  the  jaw-breaking  power  of  their  pale-faced  successors. 

Of  the  five  distinguished  white  men  who  signed  the  treaty,, 
two  of  them,  Andrew  Burns  and  John  Lamar,  afterwards  became 

27 


citizens  of  this  county  and  some  of  their  descendants  still  live 
in  it.* 

The  era  upon  which  Jackson  County  entered  in  1812,  was  an 
eventful  one.  Though  rich  in  the  integrity  of  her  men,  proud  of 
the  ennobling  and  elevating  character  of  her  women;  and  boast- 
ing of  a  surplus  in  her  treasury,  amounting  to  $57,061/4,  fear  and 
forebodings  of  an  evil  day  began  to  dawn  upon  the  people. 
Still  a  border  county,  and  our  Atlantic  coasts  blockaded  by  Eng- 
lish fleets;  the  flames  of  burning  houses  by  night  and  the  gleam 
of  the  Indian  tomahawk  by  day,  announced  indiscriminate 
slaughter  all  along  her  borders  and  sometimes  within  her  limits. 
The  morals  of  the  people,  hitherto  almost  pure,  became  corrupt; 
drunkenness,  almost  unknown  before,  became  common;  and 
crimes  of  which  the  older  citizens  had  never  dreamed,  were  com- 
mitted, sometimes  in  open  defiance  of  law.  It  is  strange  that  de- 
moralization follows  exciting  times;  but  the  old  maxim  that, 
"Hanging  day  is  the  worst  in  the  year"  is  generally  true.  It  is 
not  certain  that  Jackson  County  has  yet  recovered  from  the  blow 
then  given. 

Under  the  trying  circumstances  few  men  could  leave  their 
threatened  homes  to  enter  the  second  contest  with  the  British  lion 
and  his  whelps,  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees.  Still  out  of  a  popu- 
lation of  227  taxpayers,  the  county  furnished  23  volunteers  who 
enlisted  under  Gen.  Jackson,  and  all  but  three  or  four,  who  had 
died  of  disease,  were  with  him  at  the  Battle  of  New  Orleans  in 
1815.  Besides  the  volunteers,  a  Company  of  40  men,  styled  the 
"Jackson  Guards,"  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  Capt.  Wil- 
liam Jones,  patrolled  the  county,  and  were  of  inestimable  ser- 
vice. What  a  crying  pity  that  the  history  of  the  "Jackson 
Guards"  has  never  been  written. 

*This  treaty  covered  practically  all  of  the  old  County  of  Franklin. 
The  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Georgia,  1783,  approving  this  treaty, 
states  in  Article  III,  that  the  Savanah  river  was  considered  the  eastern 
line  and  "Beginning  at  a  stream  known  as  the  Keowee  and  running  in  a 
westerly  direction  to  the  Currahee  mountain;  thence  southwest  to  the  head 
waters  of  the  mout  southern  branch  of  the  Oconee  river  (Appalachee),  in- 
cluding all  the  waters  of  the  same;  thence  down  the  river  to  the  old  line." 

28 


After  enlarging  Jackson  by  the  Act  of  1812,  it  was  six  years 
before  the  pruning  knife  was  again  applied  to  her  boundaries. 
As  the  tread  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  had  taken  its  way  to  the  west ; 
as  George  Walton,  Button  GAvinnett  and  Lyman  Hall,  good  men 
and  true,  were  without  namesakes  on  the  map  of  Georgia;  and 
as  Jackson  could  furnish  good  material  to  build  their  monuments, 
three  deep  cuts  were  made  at  one  blow,  creating,  to  a  large  ex- 
tent, our  three  charming  daughters,  Walton,  Gwinnett  and  Hall 
Counties.* 

The  Act  making  these  three  new  counties  became  a  law  on 
the  19th  day  of  December,  1818,  and  says:  "That  all  that  part 
of  Jackson  County  which  lies  southeast  and  southwest  of  a  line 
to  commence  on  the  Appalachee  river,  where  the  dividing  line 
between  the  counties  of  Walton  and  Gwinnett  strikes  the  same, 
and  continuing  the  course  of  said  line  until  the  same  strikes  the 
Hog  Mountain  road;  thence  down  the  same  to  the  southern  line 
of  said  county;  thence  along  the  same  to  the  Appalachee  river, 
shall  be  added  to,  and  made  a  part  of  Waltonf  County ;  and  all  that 
part  of  said  county  which  lies  above  the  described  line ;  and  thence 
along  the  road  which  passes  Thompson's  mill,  to  the  Mulberry 
fork  of  the  Oconee  river;  thence  a  direct  line  to  the  corner  of 
Gwinnett  County  on  the  top  of  the  Chattahoochee  ridge,  shall  be 
added  to  and  become  a  part  of  Gwinnett  County;  and  all  that 
part  of  Jackson  County  which  lies  northwest  of  a  line  to  begin 
at  the  house  of  William  Clements  and  running  parallel  with  a 
line  commonly  called  Hawkins  line,  to  the  present  line  of  Frank- 
lin County  be  added  to  and  become  a  part  of  Hall."  As  this  Act 
did  not  clearly  define  some  of  the  northern  boundaries  of  the 
new  counties,  the  legislature  of  1819  undertook  to  remedy  the 
matter  by  enacting  "that  the  line  dividing  the  counties  of  Jack- 
son and  Gwinnett   shall   extend  from   Thompson's  mill   on  the 

*See  G.  G.  Smith's  "The  Story  of  Georgia  and  the  Georgia  People"  and 
Charles  H.  Smith's,  (Bill  Arp)  History  of  Georgia,  pages  53  and  54.  If  the 
reader  will  make  these  references  he  will  see  that  the  northern  and  western 
boundaries  of  Jackson  County  were  not  well  defined. — Ed. 

tAccording  to  the  Acts  of  the  General  Assembly,  1803,  all  the  lands  on 
the  north  and  west  of  our  county  were  called  "The  Walton  Country." 

29 


Oconee  fork  of  the  Mulberry  river ;  thence  up  said  fork  to  where 
the  line  dividing  Hall  and  Gwinnett  crosses  the  same." 

This  Act  of  1819  was  still  so  unsatisfactory  that  in  December, 
1820,  an  explanatory  Act  was  passed  with  following  preamble : 
"Whereas  some  of  the  lines  dividing  Jackson,  Walton,  Gwin- 
nett and  Hall  Counties  were  designated  by  old  roads,  not  very 
much  in  use;  and  whereas  persons  living  near  such  roads  are 
in  the  habit  of  turning  such  dividing  roads  at  pleasure  round 
their  houses,  so  as  to  throw  them  in  which  county  they  may  see 
proper,  so  as  to  evade  civil  process,  militia  duty,  payment  of  tax, 
and  effect  many  irregularities  contrary  to  the  true  intent  and 
meaning  of  the  aforesaid  law.  Be  it  enacted,"  etc.  The  Act 
then  goes  on  to  re-establish  nearly  the  same  original  lines,  and  in 
the  same  indefinite  manner.  In  some  places  their  exact  loca- 
tion is  unknown  to  this  day. 

About  the  time  Walton,  Gwinnett  and  Hall  Counties  were  sur- 
veyed, the  Georgia  legislature  proposed  to  turn  the  Chattahoo- 
chee river  into  the  North  Oconee  by  digging  a  canal  from  the 
former  to  the  head  water  of  the  latter.  This  novel  measure, 
which  was  claimed  to  be  practical,  was,  after  a  long  debate,  finally 
defeated,  mainly  by  the  wild  and  fiery  eloquence  of  John  Steb- 
bins,  a  member  who  lived  somewhere  on  the  lower  waters  of  the 
Oconee.  "What,  Mr.  Speaker,"  he  exclaimed,  "will  become  of 
me  and  my  family,  when  the  Chattahoochee,  three  miles  wide, 
a  thousand  feet  deep,  and  ten  miles  higher  than  the  sea,  is  turn- 
ed loose  at  the  rate  of  forty  miles  a  minute,  on  lower  Georgia. 
Why,  sir,  it  will  wash  every  one  of  us  away,  and  if  we  don't  get 
drowned  we  will  wake  up  some  morning  and  find  ourselves 
a-straddle  of  logs  floating  about  in  the  Atlantic  ocean.  Yes,  sir, 
the  mountains  of  North  Georgia  will  come  tumbling  down  here 
and  knock  our  State  House  into  a  cocked  hat,  and  people  will 
look  out  of  their  top  windows  to  see  if  old  father  Noah  is  again 
sailing  around  in  his  big  ship.  Besides  all  this,  Mr.  Speaker,  if 
we  turn  the  vast  volume  of  water  that  is  in  the  Chattahoochee 
from  the  channel  where  God  made  it  to  run,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
would  go  dry,  and  the  fish,  whales,  alligators  and  snakes  in  it 

30 


would  stink  so  bad  that  nobody  could  live  in  ten  thousand  miles 
of  its  shore!" 

Of  course  neither  the  speaker  nor  any  one  who  heard  him  be- 
lieved what  he  said;  but  the  speech  from  which  the  above  is  an 
extract,  was  the  climax  of  ridicule,  and  had  the  desired  effect. 
The  measure  failed,  though  it  was  not  finally  abandoned  till 
some  years  after. 

In  the  meantime  some  of  the  citizens  who  lived  around  Hur- 
ricane Shoals,  believing  that  the  Chattahoochee  would  soon  come 
washing  by  them,  applied  for  a  new  county  to  be  called  Unicoy, 
after  the  pretty  daughter  of  the  Indian  chief,  Alapaha,  who  had 
once  lived  near  the  Shoals.  The  bill  to  create  a  new  county  went 
down  with  the  bill  to  create  a  new  river.  They  died  together; 
but  it  was  not  known  that  John  Stebbins  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  county  matter. 

In  pursuance  of  a  law  passed  24th  of  December,  1821,  Jackson 
was  again  made  larger  by  enacting  that  "the  line  dividing 
Franklin  and  Jackson  shall  commence  where  the  Grove  Level 
road  strikes  the  Hall  County  line;  thence  along  the  said  road  to 
Malone's  old  store;  thence  a  direct  line  to  where  the  present 
Jackson  County  line  strikes  the  Madison  County  line,  and  all  that 
part  of  Franklin  lying  south  and  southwest  of  the  aforesaid  line, 
shall  be  added  and  become  a  part  of  Jackson  County." 

Sixteen  years  passed  without  any  further  change.  In  1837  an 
additional  part  of  Franklin  was  added  to  Jackson;  and  in  1850 
a  few  hundred  acres  of  Jackson  were  cut  off  to  Clarke.  In  1852 
the  line  of  Jackson  was  so  changed  as  to  include  the  residence 
of  William  Sanders  in  Madison.  In  1856  the  residence  of  Jesse 
Lord  was  transferred  from  Jackson  to  Banks,  and  the  lands  of 
David  Smith  in  Gwinnett  were  added  to  Jackson.  The  planta- 
tion of  George  W.  Hudson  was  taken  from  Jackson  and  added  to 
Clarke  in  1868;  and  the  line  between  Jackson  and  Madison  so 
changed  as  to  add  a  part  of  the  former  to  the  latter,  and  a  part 
of  the  latter  to  the  former. 

In  1870  the  line  of  Walton  was  so  altered  as  to  include  all  the 
lands  of  D.  R.  R.  Perkins  in  Jackson;  and  the  line  between  Jack- 
son and  Banks  was  materially  changed  as  to  begin  "at  the  resi- 

31 


dence  of  James  H.  Holland,  on  the  Hurricane  Shoals  road ;  thence 
to  General  Thomas  Anderson's;  thence  to  Atkin's  brick  store; 
thence  up  the  Clarkesville  road  to  the  line  of  Banks  County,  in- 
cluding all  the  lands  in  the  above  metes  and  bounds  in  Banks 
County." 

This  last  Act  was  exceedingly  successful  in  giving  its  "metes 
and  bounds"  so  that  they  could  not  be  understood;  but  all  of  the 
difficulties  growing  out  of  it  have  recently  been  adjusted  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  parties  concerned. 

In  1905  the  people  living  southward  of  the  Mulberry  river,  ap- 
plied for  a  new  county  which  they  proposed  to  name  Stephens, 
with  Winder  for  its  capital.  A  large  part  of  Jackson  was  involved 
and  the  new  county  party  was  strong  and  influential,  but  was  un- 
successful. 

Note :  Again  in  1913  an  effort  was  made  to  cut  a  part  of  Jackson 
off  and  combine  with  a  portion  from  each  of  Gwinnett  and  Walton 
Counties  thereby  forming  a  new  county  to  be  named  Barrow 
County  in  honor  of  Chancellor  Barrow  of  the  University  of  Geor- 
gia.   This  failed,  also.  — Editor. 


32 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Country — Its   Inhabitants — Forests — Streams — Birds. 

When  the  first  white  man,  with  his  bold  and  fearless  step  came 
to  what  was  then  known  as  Franklin,  but  since  1796,  as  Jackson 
County,  the  conditions  which  he  was  called  upon  to  meet  were 
entirely  different  from  anything  known  to  the  present  genera- 
tion. The  soil,  being  subject  only  to  the  stealthy  tread  of  the 
native,  the  light  foot-fall  of  the  prowling  animal,  and  the  force 
of  heavy  rains  being  broken  by  dense  forests,  was  so  soft  and 
mellow  that  the  white  man  sank  ankle  deep  as  he  passed  over  it. 
There  was  little  undergrowth.  By  concert  of  action  throughout 
the  country,  the  natives  burnt  the  woods  during  the  autumn  of 
every  year.  This  custom  kept  small  growth  in  check,  destroyed 
millions  upon  millions  of  reptiles  and  insects,  and  the  smoke 
arising  from  such  a  vast  area  of  burning  leaves  and  dry  timber 
partially  obscured  the  rays  of  the  sun  and  produced  the  lovely 
Indian  Summer  of  old  times.  Some  of  the  undergrowth  escaped 
the  fire  and  is  seen  in  the  large  trees  which  still  remain  in  our 
scattered  woodland. 

For  an  unknown  distance  in  every  direction  the  country  was 
covered  with  an  almost  unbroken  forest  through  which  wild 
animals  and  wilder  men  roamed  at  will  both  night  and  day.  At 
the  time  of  its  first  settlement  by  the  whites,  the  country  was  not 
as  thickly  inhabited  by  native  Indians  as  most  of  the  adjacent 
territory.  Perhaps  this  was  partly  owing  to  the  fact  that  that 
part  of  it  which  lies  between  the  Athens  and  Clarkesville  road 
to  the  north  and  east  and  the  Mulberry  river  to  the  south,  was 
claimed  by  both  the  Cherokee  and  Upper  Creek  tribes,  and  passed 
from  one  to  the  other  as  the  fortunes  of  war  dictated.  Another 
leading  reason  for  this  sparse  population  will  appear  as  our 
narrative  progresses.  The  territory  was  now  in  full  possession 
of  the  Upper  Creeks  with  here  and  there  a  family  or  an  indivi- 
dual that  belonged  to  the  Lower  Creek  tribe.  In  manners,  cus- 
toms and  language  these  two  divisions  of  the  Creek  Nation  were 

33 


almost  identical;  but,  strange  to  say,  they  were  not  on  friendly 
terms  except  in  time  of  war  with  other  tribes,  and  not  always 
then.  Those  who  lived  within  the  present  limits  of  Jackson 
County  had  all  the  leading  characteristics  of  their  race  which  are 
too  well  known  to  need  repetition  here.  A  few  of  them  were 
capable  of  the  most  devoted  friendship;  but  the  great  majority 
felt  nothing  but  the  most  intense  hatred  for  the  "pale  face"  as 
they  generally  termed  the  white  man.  Nor  can  we  reasonably 
blame  him  for  this.  Put  yourself  in  his  place.  It  is  a  serious 
thing  for  a  stranger  to  come  and  take  full  possession  of  a  man's 
home,  and  either  kill  or  drive  him  away.  It  can  be  justified  on 
the  principle  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest  only.  If  Moses  led  his 
hosts  to  the  borders  of  Canaan  and  Joshua  took  possession  of  the 
homes  of  its  inhabitants,  it  was  for  a  far-reaching  reason  that  has 
already  wrought  upon  the  destiny  of  the  whole  human  race,  not 
only  for  all  time,  but  for  eternity  as  well!  It  may  be  that  the 
very  people  of  whose  homes  our  forefathers  took  possession  were 
the  descendants  of  those  whom  Moses  led  to  Canaan  and  at  last 
became  lost  among  the  nations — the  ten  tribes  of  Israel ! 

The  natives  found  here  were,  and  still  are,  called  Indians, 
not  because  that  is  their  proper  name,  but  because,  when  first 
discovered,  they  were  thought  to  be  inhabitants  of  India,  in  Asia. 
This  shows  how  little  the  geography  of  the  world  was  known 
by  Columbus  and  his  compeers.  However,  when  the  natives 
finally  came  to  know  something  of  the  different  races  of  man- 
kind, they  called  themselves  "The  Ked  Men,"  and  this  is,  perhaps 
the  most  appropriate  designation  by  which  they  are  known. 

Their  conceptions  of  a  Supreme  Being  were  of  a  high  order, 
and  almost  universal.  They  fully  believed  in  a  future  state  of 
existence,  and  thought  the  after  life  a  continuation  of  the  first  in 
every  respect.  They  considered  the  emergence  of  a  butterfly 
from  its  chrysalis  a  renewal  of  the  life  of  the  same  insect  that 
fluttered  from  flower  to  flower  the  summer  before,  and  that  after 
death  they  would  do  the  same  way  in  what  they  termed  "The 
Happy  Hunting  Grounds  of  the  Great  Spirit."  Deeming  the  life  of 
a  butterfly  an  illustration  of  their  own,  one  of  the  few  precepts 
which   they   taught   their   children   was   "You   must   not   kill   a 

34 


cetaee,"  as  they  called  the  butterfly.  Though  this  belief  was  not 
universally  entertained  or  even  known,  it  was  a  fine  conception  of 
the  mind  of  some  heathen  who  never  heard  of  the  word  resur- 
rection. 

The  Upper  Creeks  lived  chiefly  on  wild  animals  and  birds 
caught  in  the  woods ;  on  fish,  mud  turtles  and  terrapins  found 
in  the  streams ;  on  custard-apples  or  papaws  which  grew  upon 
small  bushes,  but  now  almost  extinct;  on  wild  beans  or  mistiups 
which  grew  on  vines  in  the  fertile  valleys,  but  totally  disappeared 
after  the  introduction  of  cattle ;  on  pig  potatoes  or  oskones  which 
still  exist  in  some  of  our  swamps ;  on  wild  grapes  or  unups  which 
grew  in  great  profusion,  and  were  of  a  much  better  quality  than 
now;  and,  when  in  season,  largely  on  green  corn  which  they  call- 
ed emefila  when  soft,  but  ze  maize  when  hard.  As  the  time  for 
eating  this  choice  article  of  food  approached,  they  manifested 
their  delight  by  performing  the  emefila  or  Green  Corn  Dance. 
It  was  a  weird  and  laborious  performance  and  required  the  full 
exercise  of  all  their  physical  powers.  Sometimes  they  ground 
hard  corn  between  two  stones,  or  beat  it  in  mortars  cut  in  large 
flat  rocks,  and  thus  produced  a  coarse  meal  of  which  they  made 
cake  or  bonokins.  These  they  cooked  in  hot  ashes,  and  they  were 
said  to  be  excellent  eating.  Our  grandmothers  perpetuated  this 
custom  of  cooking  ash  cakes  for  many  years,  and  carried  the  art 
to  a  high  degree  of  perfection.  The  natives  also  made  many 
kinds  of  soup,  their  favorite  dish  being  a  mixture  of  green  corn 
and  wild  beans  which  they  called  succotash.  They  often  cooked 
in  earthen  pots;  but  broiling  was  their  favorite  method  of  pre- 
paring fish  and  birds.  It  is  not  known  that  the  Upper  Creeks 
had  any  knowledge  of  salt,  pepper,  or  other  seasoning  or  flavor- 
ing ingredients. 

Patches  of  corn  were  planted,  cultivated,  ground  and  cooked 
by  the  women  exclusively.  The  tool  chiefly  used  in  its  culti- 
vation, or  we  may  say  the  plow,  was  made  of  the  forked  limb 
of  a  hard-wood  tree,  the  point  that  entered  the  ground  being 
somewhat  hardened  by  a  skillful  application  of  fire.  Within  the 
memory  of  living  man,  a  small  plat  of  land  now  partly  covered 

35 


by  the  Commerce  Cotton  Mills,  was  thus  cultivated  by  a  very  old 
Indian  squaw  whose  name  was  Jillico. 

Nearly  all  Indians  were  skillful  in  the  use  of  the  bow  and  the 
tomahawk.  Some  of  them  were  experts  to  such  a  high  degree 
of  perfection  as  seem  incredible  to  this  age.  These  were  used  in 
the  chase  and  in  war.  Fire  arms  were  unknown  to  the  natives 
of  this  immediate  section  until  the  latter  part  of  the  90 's  of  the 
18th  century.  They  were  of  Spanish  make,  and  in  the  hands  of 
the  natives  did  little  damage. 

As  already  stated  the  forests  were  almost  unbroken,  and  when 
broken  at  all  it  had  been  done  by  the  action  of  fire  chiefly.  Trees 
having  a  diameter  of  from  six  to  nine  feet,  and  a  spread  of 
branches  of  one  hundred  feet  from  side  to  side  were  not  un- 
common. Most  of  these  were  chestnut  trees,  and  the  amount  of 
nuts  which  they  produced  was  enormous,  sometimes  covering 
the  ground  in  places  to  the  depth  of  several  inches.  Their  ex- 
cellent flavor  and  mealy  substance  have  made  them  a  favorite 
article  of  food  wherever  known.  The  natives  cooked  them  in 
various  ways,  and  though  they  make  delicious  bread,  it  is  not 
known  that  they  ever  so  used  them.  Though  now  closely  verging 
upon  total  extinction,  the  chestnut,  large  and  small,  was  the  pre- 
vailing growth  of  this  country.  The  timber,  to  say  nothing  of 
its  fruit  was  very  valuable,  and  its  disappearance  is  hard  to  ex- 
plain. It  is  generally  thought  that  when  the  woods  ceased  to  be 
burned,  decaying  leaves  produced  a  germ  of  disease  that  killed 
the  trees  by  slow  stages. 

Next  in  size  came  the  poplars  and  white  oaks,  the  latter  often 
producing  enough  of  big,  plump  acorns  to  make  it  a  difficult 
matter  to  walk  over  the  ground  where  they  had  fallen.  The 
length  and  size  of  their  branches  were  amazing.  They  generally 
grew  horizontal  to  the  main  body  of  the  tree.  This  afforded 
bears  and  panthers  a  favorite  lurking  place.  The  poplars  were 
not  so  numerous  as  the  oaks  but  some  of  them  grew  to  an  im- 
mense size.  Near  the  junction  of  big  and  little  Sandy  creeks 
stood  a  poplar  that  at  the  height  of  a  man's  head  measured  nine 
feet  and  seven  inches  in  diameter.  It  was  hollow,  and  about 
1837  was  cut  down  by  raccoon  hunters  at  the  cost  of  the  lives  of 

36 


three  valuable  dogs  and  several  raccoons,  besides  "William 
Rhodes,  one  of  the  hunters,  was  crippled  for  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  Being  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  he  made  a  full  set  of  lasts 
and  the  arm  pieces  of  a  pair  of  crutches  out  of  a  part  of  that  big 
tree. 

Another  distinguishing  feature  of  the  old-time  forest  was  the 
deep  yet  low  undertone  which  the  listening  ear  could  always  hear 
when  the  wind  was  not  blowing.     Though  not  yet  entirely  un- 
heard in  the  woods,  it  was  prominent  then  and  many  a  hunter 
has    been  soothed    to    sleep    by    its    pleasant,    dreamy    moaning 
through  the  tree-tops.     Others   again  have   cried  under  its  in- 
fluence because  many  believed  it  to  be  the  whisperings  of  the  dead 
in  a  language  which  no  one  could  understand  until  they  joined  the 
invisible  throng  themselves.    It  was  not  like  the  sad  soughing  of 
the  wind  through  the  pine  trees,  for  it  could  not  be  heard  at  all 
when  the  wind  was  blowing.    It  seemed  like  the  solemn,  sad,  yet 
pleasing  moan  of  beings  among  the  trees,  inviting  us  to  come  and 
join  in  the  chant  of  universal  nature  with  them.     The  old  poets 
called  it  the  "solemn  hush  of  nature,"  and  represented  it  as 
"constantly   singing   a   soft   lullaby   that    enabled   nymphs    and 
fairies  to  sleep  soundly."    As  it  was,  and  still  is  heard  in  dense 
forests  only,  it  may  be  that  if  the  rush  of  a  million  worlds  through 
infinite  space  above  and  around  us  makes  a  noise  so  loud  we 
can  not  hear  it,  the  growth-cells  constantly  being  added  to  mil- 
lions of  trees,  leaves  and  plants  all  around  us,  make  just  enough 
noise  to  enable  us  to  indistinctly  hear  them  grow,  and  that  this 
constitutes  "The  Moan  of  the  Woods." 

Taking  these  prominent  features,  together  with  the  great  num- 
ber of  large  and  beautiful  pine  trees  whose  towering  trunks 
overtopped  all  others,  whose  invaluable  timbers  have  entered  in- 
to the  construction  of  many  ships  beyond  the  seas,  and  the  large 
area  that  has  been  entirely  cleared  of  all  spontaneous  growth, 
from  the  forests  once  roamed  by  our  ancestors,  and  we  have  left 
a  very  skeleton  indeed. 

The  water  courses  of  the  country  have  also  considerably 
changed.  It  is  a  disputed  question  as  to  whether  they  afford  as 
much  water  now  as  they  did  before  the  forests  were  cleared 

37 

448136 


away;  but  the  laws  governing  evaporation  justify  us  in  saying 
that  less  water  flows  now  than  when  its  surface  was  hardly  ex- 
posed to  the  sun  at  all,  nor  did  the  dry  winds  reach  it  then  as 
now.  The  water  of  all  streams  whether  large  or  small,  w^as  as 
clear  as  crystal.  Little  mud  reached  them  from  the  hills.  Un- 
der these  favorable  conditions  fishes  were  much  more  numerous, 
larger,  and  better  flavored  than  now  when  the  waters  are  so 
very  impure  that  it  is  a  matter  of  surprise  that  anything  con- 
sidered clean  can  exist  in  them  at  all. 

The  old-time  names  of  all  the  streams  have  been  changed. 
North  Oconee  on  which  Hurricane  and  Tumbling  Shoals  are 
located  was  called  Etoho;  Middle  or  Walnut  Fork,  Ithlobee; 
Mulberry,  on  which  are  the  Talasee  Shoals,  Tislunaugu.  Proper- 
ly these  streams  should  still  be  called  North,  and  Middle  and 
South  Oconee  because  they  were  so  named  by  the  first  settlers 
of  the  country.  The  name  of  Sandy  Creek  was  Pocataligo ;  Tur- 
key Creek,  Pinholowah;  Curry's  Creek,  Tobesofoskee;  Hurricane 
Creek,  Numsacota.  The  double  branches  in  Newtown  district  were 
called  Cahootaconnough ;  Beaver  Creek,  Jarathoggin;  Cedar 
Creek,  Ipsequilta;  Morgan's  Creek,  Yotocompsa;  and  Beech 
Creek,  Taurulaboole.  This  word  means  screaming  panther,  and 
the  creek  was  so  named  because  its  swamps  were  inhabited  by  a 
great  number  of  these  animals. 

Taurulaboole  ! — Screaming  Panther  Creek ! — The  name  sounds 
ominously;  but  from  the  accounts  which  have  come  down  to  us 
descriptive  of  its  gloomy  haunts,  the  place  itself  must  have  seem- 
ed horrid  indeed  to  those  who  first  came  to  the  country.  Mrs. 
Clara  Linton,  one  of  the  early  emigrants,  thus  described  the 
place  in  a  letter  written  to  her  sister  who  lived  in  Liberty  County : 

"The  bed  of  the  creek  is  much  below  the  tops  of  the  adjacent 
hills,  and  for  several  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Tishmaugu 
river  is  bordered  by  almost  impassable  swamps  and  by  dense 
canebreakers  on  both  sides  which  are  in  some  places  several  hun- 
dred yards  wide.  These  are  inhabited  by  a  great  number  of 
panthers  that  make  night  hideous  by  their  screams  which  you 
well  know  resemble  those  made  by  a  woman  in  distress.  "When 
we  consider  the  character  of  the  animal,  I  conceive  that  nothing 

38 


more  horrid  ever  reached  the  human  ear  than  the  doleful  ming- 
ling of  their  unearthly  screams  as  with  the  coming  twilight  one 
stands  on  a  distant  hill  top  and  listens  to  their  frightful  orgies. 
Then,  if  possible,  to  make  the  night  still  more  hideous,  a  flock  of 
great-horned  owls  sit  on  the  surrounding  tall  tree-tops,  and  hoot 
and  hoot  ta-ha-too-who-who  until  broad  daylight.  If  one  near  by  is 
answered  by  another  in  the  distance,  as  frequently  happens,  then, 
all  unconsciously  the  listener  expects  to  see  a  troop  of  ghosts 
come  marching  from  the  dark  and  gloomy  jungles  of  Screaming 
Panther  Creek." 

"It  is  strange,"  continued  Mrs.  Linton,  "that  no  other  place 
in  the  country  is  subject  to  such  a  frightful  nocturnal  visita- 
tion. No  wonder  only  two  natives  have  been  known  to  live  in  this 
immediate  vicinity  for  more  than  one  day,  and  they,  because  of 
some  secret  said  to  be  in  their  possession  only,  were  immune  from 
the  attack  of  vicious  animals.  Even  torture  failed  to  elicit  the 
secret  from  them," 

Birds  were  among  the  most  interesting  features  of  the  prime- 
val forest.  Some  are  extinct  and  a  few  others  nearly  so.  Then 
as  now  the  haughty  blue  jay,  policeman  of  the  woods,  growled 
and  fretted  like  many  people  who  seem  to  be  mad  because  others 
are  living  besides  themselves.  Then  as  now  the  reticent  mocking 
bird,  the  both  day  and  night  musician  of  the  times,  poured  forth 
his  varied  notes  from  some  towering  tree-top  for  want  of  a  hedge 
from  which  to  give  his  hearers  a  closer  audience. 

Then  as  now,  the  fidgeted  little  wren,  hermit  of  the  wood-pile, 
with  inquisitive  round  and  keen  eye,  frisked  from  place  to  place 
in  search  of  the  early  worm  or  belated  fly;  but  the  great  wood- 
chick  with  his  scarlet  plume,  and  his  black  and  white  wings  of 
ample  spread,  carrying  him  through  the  air  like  he  was  riding 
upon  the  waves  of  a  boisterous  sea;  the  golden  yellow  and  the 
blood-red  tanagers,  whose  plumage  is  as  brilliant  as  any  bird  of 
the  tropics;  the  delightful  woodthrush,  with  his  canary-yellow, 
black-speckled  breast,  and  his  musical  song  at  break  of  day;  the 
harmless  bluebird  twittering  near  his  well-hidden  nest  in  some 
hollow  tree;  the  crimson-colored  redbird  with  his  bold  whistle 
and  heavy  beak;  the  delicate  partridge  with  his  bob-white  call 

39 


and  sly  habits ;  and  the  great  turkey  gobbler  with  his  lordy  strut, 
bronzed  breast,  red-wattled  head  and  hanging  beard,  have  all 
or  nearly   all,   disappeared. 

With  the  pretty  birds  the  great  eagle  that  on  tireless  wings 
sometimes  soared  above  the  clouds,  has  also  gone.  Often  he 
wheeled  in  lowering  circles  and  turned  his  head  in  every  direc- 
tion in  search  of  his  prey.  Discovering  a  pig,  lamb  or  rabbit,  he 
half-folded  his  wings,  and  descending  through  the  air  like  an  ar- 
row, easily  carried  his  victim  away  to  some  hidden  place  of  re- 
treat. Indeed  one  of  these  fierce  birds  seized  a  little  child  near 
where  Winder  is  now  located,  and  carried  it  to  Price 's  mountain* 
near  Belmont  in  Hall  County.  The  skeleton  of  a  child's  foot 
with  toe  nails  still  on  was  afterwards  discovered  there,  but  no 
other  bones  were  found. 

With  the  passing  of  the  eagle  have  also  gone  the  great  flocks 
of  wild  geese  that  often  visited  the  country  in  old  times.  Ar- 
ranging themselves  in  a  V-shaped  body  far  above  the  tree-tops, 
a  bold,  strong  leader  placed  himself  at  the  apex,  and  thus  they 
ranged  the  broad  extent  of  country  from  Mexico  to  Canada. 
Occasionally  a  few  stragglers  would  stop  to  search  for  food,  and 
often  some  of  them  were  killed  and  found  to  be  excellent  eating. 

Until  the  woodman's  axe  became  so  terribly  destructive  there 
stood,  near  the  residence  of  Rev.  Henry  Hardman,  a  tree  which 
came  from  a  seed  found  in  the  craw  of  a  wild  goose.  It  was 
planted  in  1823,  and  no  one  who  saw  the  tree  was  able  to  classify 
it.  It  produced  a  rich  profusion  of  finely  flavored  blooms,  and 
almost  an  equal  number  of  rare  berries  similar  in  taste  to  the 
muscadine,  but  a  little  smaller.  Greatly  to  the  regret  of  many, 
the  seed  of  the  berries  would  not  germinate — it  may  have  been 
because  of  climatic  conditions. 

Especially  at  night  when  ghosts  and  goblins  were  said  to  be 
trooping  to  and  from  churchyards,  the  lonesome,  far-away  cry, 
"honk!"  "honk!"  "honk!"  of  the  wild  goose  caused  the  listener 
to  draw  his  bedclothes  close  around  him.     Sometimes  the  geese 

*Price  's  Mountain  is  on  the  line  of  Jackson  and  Hall  Counties.  Part  of  it 
is  in  Jackson,  but  the  greater  portion  is  across  the  line  in  the  other 
county. — Ed. 

40 


flew  so  high  as  to  be  invisible  even  in  the  daytime.  That  was  a 
good  sign  of  dry  weather.  At  other  times  they  flew  low  and 
i-epeated  their  cries  rapidly.  That  was  a  sign  of  bad  weather. 
Hence  the  old  adage  of  weather  prophets,  "The  goose  hangs 
high,"  or  "the  goose  hangs  low,"  "hang"  being  a  corruption 
of  "honk." 

The  vast  multitude  of  wild  pigeons  that  in  bygone  days  visited 
the  country  have  passed  away  with  the  geese.  The  flocks  were 
frequently  so  large  as  to  obscure  the  sun  like  a  monster  black 
cloud,  and  the  great  number  of  rapidly  moving  wings  caused  the 
leaves  of  the  trees  beneath  them  to  flutter  back  and  forth  as 
when  a  moderate  wind  is  passing.  Unlike  the  geese  they  often 
stopped  to  feast  on  acorns  and  chestnuts.  Going  to  roost  at 
night  all  went  together,  and  lighting  upon  the  trees  they  broke 
down  the  timber  to  such  an  extent  that  many  thousands  were 
killed  in  the  general  wreck.  Hence  another  old  adage  was,  "Go 
around  the  pigeon  roost  if  you  expect  to  eat  dinner." 

Then,  too,  there  was  the  horned  owl,  the  night  sentinel  of  the 
times,  that  took  his  post  on  some  lofty  tree-top  as  described  by 
Mrs.  Linton.  Because  of  his  cigar-shaped  body,  short  wings  and 
ghostly  hooting,  "ta-hoo-to-hoo-hoo,"  he  was  regarded  as  the  ogre 
of  the  night,  and  when  another,  and  another  answered  him  from 
all  directions,  children  and  sometimes  even  grown  folks,  went  to 
bed  and  pulled  the  cover  over  their  heads.  Though  simple  and 
easily  understood,  such  a  medley  of  harsh,  discordant  notes  seem- 
ed to  have  a  ghostly  sound.  Even  more  so  when  the  quick,  sharp, 
unearthly  screams  of  the  nighthawk,  seldom  seen  but  often  heard 
at  night  only  in  the  most  gloomy  parts  of  the  forest  where  a  ray 
of  sunshine  was  almost  unknown.  Of  ugly  form,  and,  except 
when  on  the  wing,  of  ungainly  movements,  the  nighthawk  is, 
perhaps,  the  least  companionable  bird  of  all  the  feathered  tribe. 
The  sharp  note  of  the  lonesome  joeree;  the  "cra-cre-cro"  of 
the  sly  raincrow;  the  "boo-o-uh"  of  the  swooping  bullbat;  and 
the  delightful  strains  of  the  swamp  blackbird,  are  not  often,  if 
at  all,  heard  by  children  of  the  present  generation.  To  the  pros- 
perity of  all  of  them,  the  unbroken  forest  with  its  deep  shadows 

41 


and  silent  glens  that  teem  with  insect,  vegetable  and  animal  life, 
Beems  to  be  necessary. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  number  of  turkey  buzzards  in  any 
given  area  neither  increases  nor  diminishes  with  the  passing 
years.  This  is  singular  because  they  are  known  to  extend  their 
flight  to  a  great  distance.  In  1836  AYilliam  Jones  caught  a  buz- 
Eard  on  his  father's  plantation  now  known  as  the  Jackson — near 
Dr.  L.  G.  Hardman's  place,  and  fastening  a  small  brass  bell,  on 
which  his  name  and  date  were  plainly  written  to  the  captive's 
neck,  he  turned  it  loose  unhurt.  Some  months  passed  and  the 
same  bird,  having  excited  the  curiosity  of  many  people,  was 
shot  in  the  vicinity  of  Savannah,  Ga.,  and  the  curious  noise  it 
made  when  flying  was  explained.  The  probability  is  that  there 
are  no  more  turkey  buzzards  now  than  when  the  country  was 
first  settled  by  the  white  man,  nor  are  there  any  less. 


42 


CHAPTER  III. 

Animals  Together  With  Some  Incidents  Relating  to  Them — • 
The  Mysterious  Wog. 

Though  the  species  of  animals  found  in  the  primeval  forests  of 
this  country  by  our  ancestors,  were  not  so  many  as  those  living 
in  the  jungles  of  Africa  or  in  the  plains  of  Asia,  yet  they  were 
quite  numerous.  Some  were  dangerous  and  others  harmless.  At 
least  one  distinguishing  characteristic  applied  to  every  one  of 
whatever  kind — all  were  sleek  and  fat — none  were  poor  or  lean. 
All  were  wild,  but  some  more  gentle  than  others.  As  everywhere 
else  the  vicious  animals  were  not  the  wildest.  Nothing  approach- 
ing a  domesticated  animal  had  ever  been  seen  by  a  native  of  the 
country  except  two  horses  of  which  they  were  much  afraid  at 
first,  thinking  that  the  horse  and  his  rider  were  one  and  the 
same  creature. 

"With  the  passing  of  some  of  the  birds,  many  animals  have  dis- 
appeared also.  The  beautiful  and  innocent  red  deer,  always 
sleek,  clean  and  toothsome,  and  as  swift  as  the  wind ;  the  sly  fox, 
the  delight  of  all  hunters,  and  as  cunning  as  a  native ;  and  the 
barking  gray  squirrel,  the  ornament  of  the  woods  and  a  target 
for  the  sportsman,  are  nearly  all  gone,  now. 

The  opossum,  prowler  of  the  night  and  hypocrite  of  the  woods, 
the  raccoon,  the  little  bear  of  the  swamps  and  inhabitant  of  hol- 
low trees;  and  the  rabbit,  the  Molly  Cotton  Tail  of  the  thicket, 
and  the  reputed  companion  of  witches,  are  still  here,  but  com- 
paratively few  in  number.  The  latter  little  animal,  the  rabbit,  is, 
or  rather  was,  the  most  singular  creature  known  to  the  country. 
Though  still  queer  and  hard  to  understand,  the  hunter,  with  his 
dogs  and  shot  gun,  have  greatly  changed  his  habits,  his  manners 
and  his  customs.  Naturally  timid,  as  his  speed,  large  eyes  and 
ears  certainly  indicate,  the  close  seclusion  and  constant  watching 
required  by  modern  conditions,  give  him  something  to  do  besides 
gamboling  and  playing  over  the  hills  and  up  and  down  the  valleys 
as  he  did  in  old  times.  Having  but  few  enemies  rabbits  were  more 

43 


numerous  then  than  now  for  an  Indian  never  killed  one.  Among 
them  as  among  other  nations  there  were  curious  people  and  when 
one  of  these  died  they  believed  his  or  her  spirit  went  into  a  rabbit 
and  made  a  witch.  Hence  the  immunity  of  these  animals  from 
death  at  the  hand  of  a  native. 

All  animals  have  a  sense  of  humor,  more  or  less,  especially 
when  young.  Perhaps  rabbits  and  squirrels  are  more  notable  for 
their  playful  moods  after  they  are  grown  than  any  other  natives 
of  this  country.  In  old  times  when  the  latter  would  run  up  a  tree 
only  far  enough  to  get  beyond  the  reach  of  the  hunter's  dog,  and 
turn  around  and  actually  bark  at  him  with  what  seemed  to  be 
saucy,  defiant  mockery,  they  were  very  different  from  what  they 
are  now.  Their  playful  running  up  and  down  trees,  over  the  waving 
and  slender  branches,  and  jumping  as  if  they  had  wings,  from  one 
tree  to  another,  was  very  pleasing,  and  always  engaged  the  closest 
attention  of  the  hunter  who  never  ventured  to  fire  his  gun  at  one 
when  thus  employed.  Their  exercises,  though  not  so  varied  as 
those  of  the  rabbits,  were  so  elegantly  performed,  and  their  bark- 
ing and  chattering  manifested  so  much  real  delight,  that  the  re- 
spect of  the  beholder  for  the  pretty  little  animals  was  always  too 
great  to  admit  of  any  interference  with  their  fun,  whatever. 

Notwithstanding  their  wonderful  acrobatical  exploits  among  the 
trees,  a  squirrel  was  seldom  known  to  fall  to  the  ground.  On  one 
occasion  when  several  were  chasing  each  other  up  and  down  a 
great  poplar  tree  in  which  was  a  large  hole  some  thirty  feet  from 
the  ground,  the  foremost  one  finally  ran  in  it,  and  the  others  quick- 
ly followed.  As  quickly  all  came  running  out  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  such  a  hurry  that  some  of  them  lost  their  footing  and  fell 
to  the  ground.  After  looking  around  for  a  moment,  the}''  scamper- 
ed off  through  the  forest  and  did  not  return.  Their  companions 
that  were  playing  on  other  trees  at  once  seemed  to  know  that 
something  was  wrong  and  soon  disappeared,  also.  It  was  after- 
wards found  that  the  hollow  into  which  the  playing  squirrels 
ran,  contained  one  old  raccoon  and  two  young  ones.  Their  haste 
to  get  out  and  the  stampede  that  followed  were  explained. 

Perhaps  no  animal  values  its  tail  so  highly  as  the  squirrel.  It 
is  indeed  very  pretty,  and  is  of  great  use  whether  climbing  or 

44 


jumping.  In  1841,  James  Hampton  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of 
Commerce,  shot  off  the  tail  of  a  gray  squirrel.  It  fell  to  the  ground, 
but  the  squirrel  itself  escaped  to  a  hollow  tree.  Near  his  house 
there  grew  a  large,  spreading  chestnut  tree  which  at  the  time  was 
full  of  chestnuts,  ripe  in  the  opening  burrs.  The  next  day  his 
daughter,  Lenora  Hampton,  noticed  that  squirrels  were  frequently 
passing  back  and  forth  from  the  forest  in  which  the  squirrel  had 
been  wounded  to  the  big  chestnut  tree,  and  that  their  actions 
were  very  peculiar.  She  notified  her  father  of  the  discovery  and 
at  once  they  began  to  watch  the  proceedings.  At  noon  the  fol- 
lowing day  they  were  entirely  satisfied  that  the  friends  of  the 
wounded  squirrel  had  coaxed  him  out  of  his  den,  induced  him  to 
sit  in  the  crotch  of  the  tree,  amply  supplied  him  with  chestnuts 
from  the  field,  and  moreover,  that  he  utterly  refused  to  eat  them ! 
This  continued  for  several  days  through  which  he  sat,  looking 
sad  and  dejected,  without,  so  far  as  those  who  watched  him  could 
discover,  eating  anything.  On  the  morning  of  the  seventh  day  he 
was  found  dead  at  the  root  of  the  tree  from  which  he  had  fallen. 
A  careful  examination  showed  that  no  part  of  his  body  had  been 
injured  by  a  bullet  or  otherwise.  Doubtless  the  poor  little  fellow 
had  grieved  himself  to  death  because  of  the  loss  of  his  tail.  Lenora 
Hampton  is  still  living  and  sometimes  tells  the  pathetic  story  of 
the  bob-tailed  squirrel  in  the  long  time  ago. 

To  further  show  that  a  squirrel  highly  values  his  tail,  the  fol- 
lowing incident  is  given.  Two  young  ones  were  kept  in  a  cage 
until  they  were  nearly  grown  and  had  become  quite  tame.  As 
time  passed  on,  one  gnawed  the  hair  off  of  his  companion's  tail  so 
closely  that  he  looked  more  like  a  rat  than  a  squirrel.  At  last 
they  escaped  from  prison  and  went  to  the  woods.  The  uninjured 
one  remained  in  the  vicinity,  but  the  rat-tailed  fellow  kept  on  and 
•  was  afterwards  seen  several  miles  away.  He  never  returned  to 
the  home  of  his  shame,  but  his  companion,  being  known  by  a 
small  brass  chain  around  his  neck  as  well  as  by  his  manners,  often 
went  back  on  a  short  but  always  cautious  visit. 

As  the  foregoing  incidents  relating  to   animals  are   given  to 
show  old-time  life  in  its  innocent  forms,  the  following  are  men- 

45 


tioned  as  most  dangerous,  leaving,  however,  incidents  illustrating 
their  character,  to  be  described  as  they  occurred  in  actual  life: 

The  howl  of  the  savage  and  always  hungry  wolf ;  the  spring  of 
the  stealthy  jDanther  with  his  inordinate  thirst  for  human  blood ; 
and  the  great  black  bear  sniffing  around  at  midnight  in  search 
of  something  to  devour,  and  occasionally  giving  his  ugly  growls, 
were  constantly  a  terror  to  those  who  heard  them. 

As  all  these  animals  had  a  mortal  dread  of  fire,  the  only  way 
to  keep  them  at  a  distance  while  the  pioneers  were  asleep  was  to 
keep  a  fire  burning  in  the  yard  all  night.  True,  many  were  killed ; 
but  it  required  a  long  time  to  perceptibly  diminish  the  great  num- 
ber that  roamed  through  the  forests. 

While  the  wolves,  panthers  and  bears  gave  the  first  white  set- 
tlers of  this  part  of  the  country  much  trouble,  still  another  animal 
whose  existence  has  often  been  disputed,  inspired  those  who  pro- 
fessed to  have  seen  him,  with  more  fear  than  all  the  others  com- 
bined. It  was  the  Wog,  not  Woog  as  it  has  sometimes  been  called. 
Many  of  the  people  who  first  lived  at  and  for  several  miles  around 
old  Jug  Tavern  from  its  first  settlement  to  about  1809,  claimed  to 
have  seen  him  at  their  houses.  As  the  character  of  the  people 
who  first  lived  there  will  be  shown  as  this  narrative  progresses, 
the  reader  will  be  at  as  much  loss  to  know  how  he  can  aflPord  to 
dispute  their  word  as  he  is  to  believe  what  they  have  said.  At  any 
rate  the  writer  tells  the  story  as  it  was  told  to  him;  but,  perhaps, 
with  a  little  more  evidence  than  any  reader  has. 

The  wog  was  said  to  be  a  jet-black,  long-haired  animal  about 
the  size  of  a  small  horse,  but  his  legs  were  much  shorter,  the  front 
ones  being  some  twelve  inches  longer  than  the  hind  ones.  This 
gave  him  something  of  the  appearance  of  a  huge  dog  "sitting  on 
its  tail,"  and  when  walking  seemed  to  require  him  to  carry  for- 
ward one  side  at  a  time.  His  tail  was  very  large,  all  the  way  of 
the  same  size,  and  at  the  end  of  it  there  was  a  bunch  of  entirely 
white  hair  at  least  eight  inches  long  and  larger  in  diameter  than 
the  tail  itself.  "Whether  sitting,  standing  or  walking  this  curious 
appendage  was  in  constant  motion  from  side  to  side,  not  as  a 
dog  wags  his  tail,  but  with  a  quick  upward  curve  which  brought  it 
down  with  a  whizzing  sound  that  could  be  distinctly  heard  at 

46 


least  when  twenty-five  or  thirty  steps  distant.  But  the  most  dis- 
tinguishing feature  of  this  horrid  tail  was  that  it  revealed  the 
presence  of  the  monster  in  the  dark — the  only  time  he  ventured 
to  go  abroad.  liis  great  red  eyes  were  very  repulsive,  ])ut  not  so 
much  so  as  his  forked  tongue,  the  prongs  of  which  were  thought  to 
be  eight  inches  long  and  sometimes  played  in  and  out  his  mouth 
like  those  of  a  mad  snake.  Really  the  meanest  feature  about  the 
beast  was  that  his  bear-like  head  contained  a  set  of  great  white 
teeth  over  which  his  ugly  lips  never  closed. 

The  Indians  told  the  first  white  emigrants  that  so  long  as  the 
wog  was  left  undisturbed  he  would  not  molest  any  one — that  he 
would  sometimes  visit  their  houses — go  around  them — if  a  light 
were  inside,  poke  his  tongue  through  any  opening  he  could  find 
between  the  logs,  and  then  go  away.  Pioneers  were  not  only  quick 
to  learn  this  lesson,  but  also  carefully  followed  the  instruction. 

During  the  years  formerly  mentioned,  the  wog  made  several 
visits  to  houses  in  the  territory  to  which  reference  has  been  made. 
Those  inside  the  house,  though  they  had  not  seen  the  flirting  of 
his  white  plume,  knew  of  his  presence  by  its  whizzing  sound,  by 
the  poke  of  his  horrid  tongue  through  the  cracks  of  the  wall,  and 
notably  by  the  mortal  fear  with  which  he  inspired  other  creatures 
outside.  Dogs  and  eats  ran  away  and  in  some  instances  were 
seared  to  death.  Horses  snorted,  cattle  moaned  and  chickens  flew 
from  their  roosts  in  all  directions. 

Thus  having  seemingly  accomplished  his  only  mission — to 
frighten  everything  out  of  its  Avits — he  gave  a  loud  snort  and  still 
twirling  his  white  signal  from  side  to  side,  went  ambling  away, 
and  welcome  was  the  going. 

The  foregoing  is,  in  substance,  the  description  given  by  Alonzo 
Draper  who  lived  and  died  in  the  territory  of  the  wog,  and  also  by 
Thomas  C.  Barron  who  died  near  Apply  Valley  in  the  '40 's  of  the 
last  century. 

Let  me  repeat :  I  give  the  account  of  the  wog  as  it  was  given 
to  me.  It  is  hard  to  confess  that  one  believes  that  there  was  such 
a  thing  and  one  hates  to  say  that  he  does  not  believe  the  word 
of  these  old  citizens.  The  writer  must  leave  the  matter  to  you, 
dear  reader. 

47 


THE  TALASEE  COLONY 


BANNA  MAR  DE  VEDO  AND  HER  ENVIRONS 
Being  a  part  of  the  Earlg  History  of  Jackson  Countg 


Dedicated  to  the  Memory  of  the  Talasee  Colong 


49 


CHAPTER  I. 

First  Settlers  From  Effingham  County. 

In  the  summer  of  1786,  when  few  white  people  lived  within  the 
present  limits  of  Jackson  County,  Richard  Easley,  Abednego 
Moore  and  Johnson  Josiah  Strong,*  came  from  Effingham  County 
and  settled  near  Talasee  Shoals  on  Mulberry  river,  then  called 
Tishmaugu.  Wishing  to  conciliate  the  natives,  and  knowing  they 
were  excessively  fond  of  showy  trinkets  and  gay  apparel,  the 
newcomers  brought  with  them  a  liberal  supply  of  glittering  beads 
and  some  remnants  of  cloth  of  various  colors. 

At  the  time  of  their  arrival  a  noted  Indian  whose  name  was 
Umausauga,  and  his  only  daughter,  Banna,  somewhere  in  her 
early  teens  lived  in  the  immediate  neighborhood.  Though  not  a 
chief,  his  influence  was  considerable,  his  intellect  of  a  high  order, 
his  physical  strength  gigantic,  his  prowess  undisputed,  his  friend- 
ship true,  and  his  hatred  implacable.  Contrary  to  usual  custom  of 
his  people,  he  claimed  a  large  extent  of  the  adjacent  territory  as 
his  individual  property,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to  live,  hunt  or 
fish  on  it  without  his  permission.  His  claim  lay  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  and  fortunately,  the  newcomers,  without  knowing 
anything  of  the  reserved  territory,  pitched  their  tent  on  the  north 
side  at  Jasacathor,  afterwards  known  as  the  Dr.  Pendleton  spring 
where  John  Duncan  now  lives. 

Some  days  passed  before  the  white  men  and  the  Indian  nabob 
met.  They  had  seen  him  in  the  distance  and  thought  he  tried  to 
shun  them;  but  one  evening  while  tishing  at  the  shoals,  a  native 
appeared  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  wading  into  the  water  caught 
several  fish  with  his  hands  before  they  captured  one  with  their 
hooks.  Apparently  satisfied,  he  returned  to  the  bank,  and  Mr. 
Strong,  wishing  to  show  a  friendly  front,  and  being  able  to  speak 
the  Creek  language,  told  him  that  if  he  would  come  over  his  pale- 
faced  friends  would  give  him  some  hooks  made  to  catch  fish  in 

*See  White's  "Historical  Collections  of  Georgia,"  page  499. — Ed. 

51 


deep  water  where  there  were  no  rocks.  After  some  hesitation  the 
Indian  accepted  the  invitation,  and  when  given  the  promised  fish- 
hooks and  their  use  was  explained,  his  ej'es  sparkled  with  delight, 
and  giving  three  distinct  grunts,  one  for  each  of  his  benefactors, 
he,  to  their  astonishment,  said  in  broken  English,  "U-mau-sau-ga 
hook  take.  He  much  thank  you.  Hook  good  fish  catch."  Then 
and  there  began  a  friendship  which,  though  often  tried,  was  never 
broken. 

At  their  urgent  request  the  Indian  went  home  with  his  newly 
found  friends  who  treated  him  with  kindness  and  respect.  Among 
other  things  they  gave  him  a  long  string  of  white,  red  and  blue 
beads,  and  what  Mr.  Easley  called  ''a  frock  pattern"  of  valuable 
red  merino. cloth  and  a  string  of  small  beads  for  his  daughter, 
Banna,  whom  the  white  men  had  never  seen. 

Having  manifested  his  gratitude  in  many  curious  ways  and 
grown  hilarious  over  the  brilliant  color  of  the  cloth,  Umausauga 
invited  his  new  neighbors  to  move  on  his  side  of  the  river  and 
live,  hunt  and  fish  where  they  pleased.  This  led  to  a  full  explana- 
tion of  his  claims  as  already  stated,  and,  as  afterwards  found, 
were  quite  a  departure  from  his  usual  custom.  They  gave  him  to 
understand  that  they  did  not  want  to  impose  on  his  generosity; 
but  that  if  he  would  take  beads  in  paj^ment  for  a  part  of  his  land, 
they  would  willingly  buy.  This  proposition  seemed  to  please  him, 
and  the  following  day  was  appointed  to  fix  upon  the  price  and 
boundaries.  Repeating  his  significant  grunts  the  Indian  then  re- 
turned to  his  wigwam  over  the  river  with  as  proud  a  step  as  any 
lord  that  ever  ruled  a  kingdom. 

The  Indian  highway  known  as  the  Okoloco  Trail,  was,  when 
opened  for  travel  by  the  white  man,  called  the  Hog  Mountain 
road.  Near  the  spot  where  the  Jefi^erson  and  Monroe  road  crosses 
that  old  Trail  on  the  late  John  M.  Austin  place,  there  stood,  a 
little  to  the  south,  a  huge  chestnut  tree.  Its  ponderous  branches, 
reaching  far  and  wide,  offered  such  ample  protection  from  the  heat 
of  summer  that  the  natives,  who  often  traveled  the  Trail  in  single 
file,  called  the  great  tree  Calamit,  which  means  the  place  of  rest. 
There  they  smoked  the  Calumet,  the  pipe  of  peace,  and  there  they 
ratified  their  treaties  and  confirmed  their  trades. 

52 


It  was  a  matter  of  much  surprise  to  Easley,  Moore  and  Strong, 
when  Umausauga  conducted  them  to  Calamit  to  begin  a  survey  of 
the  land  he  had  promised  to  sell  them.  They  had  expected  it  to  be 
near  the  shoals  but  thinking  it  good  policy  to  remain  silent,  and 
not  caring  much  about  the  matter  anyway,  they  offered  no  ob- 
jections. 

As  the  Okoloco  Trail  was  the  southern  boundary  of  Umau- 
sauga's  little  kingdom,  he  made  no  claim  to  any  exclusive  rights 
and  privileges  pertaining  to  Calamit ;  but  placing  a  large  stone  a 
little  beyond  its  shadow  he  designated  it  as  the  beginning  corner. 
Carefully  taking  his  bearings,  he  stood  upon  the  rock,  and  facing 
to  the  northwest,  threw  his  tomahawk  at  a  small  pine  tree  some 
fifteen  feet  distant,  and  with  such  force  that  the  blade  went  deep 
in  the  solid  wood.  Selecting  another  tree  in  range  with  the  mark- 
ed pine  and  the  rock  corner,  he  proceeded  as  before,  and  thus 
continued  until  the  party  reached  a  point  called  Talapahoo,  but 
afterwards  known  as  the  Rock  Ford  on  the  Hinton  plantation. 

To  an  Indian,  Talapahoo  meant  about  the  same  thing  that  a 
slaughter  pen  means  to  us.  There  the  natives  dressed  the  animals 
caught  in  the  chase,  and  their  children  washed  all  blood  stains 
away.  There  Britt  Langworth,  believed  to  be  a  member  of  Mur- 
rell's  Pony  Club,  dressed  in  fine  broadcloth  and  sparkling  with 
jewels,  was  drowned  in  time  of  high  water;  and  there  too  was 
found  the  celebrated  Miller  camp  which  created  much  excitement 
in  that  community  as  late  as  1873.  An  entire  stranger  who  said 
his  name  was  Garvin  IMiller,  was  an  outlaw  who  sometimes  made 
his  headquarters  in  that  immediate  community,  out-generaled  all 
the  officers  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  and  made  a  plaything 
of  the  old  jail  at  Jefferson.  There  are  men  still  living  whose  faces 
will  wear  a  broad,  dry  grin  every  time  Miller's  name  is  mentioned 
in  their  presence. 

Leaving  Talapahoo  the  unique  surveyor  turned  nearly  west  and 
proceeded  as  before  to  Poganip,  now  Cedar  Hill,  on  the  old  trail. 
Away  back  in  the  shadowy  past  a  large  town  is  said  to  have 
flourished  there;  but  only  a  few  legends  relating  to  its  history 
have  come  down  to  us.    The  name  signifies  cold  weather,  and  the 

53 


Comanches  of  the  Far  West,  when  referring  to  anything  very  cold, 
use  the  same  word  to  this  day. 

The  southern  boundary  of  Umausauga's  claim  being  already 
well  defined  by  the  Okoloco  Trail,  the  surveying  party  went  south- 
east to  an  obscure  Indian  settlement  called  Snodon,  where  the 
pretty  city  of  Winder  now  flourishes.  A  small  number  of  natives 
who,  by  Umausauga's  permission,  lived  there,  gathered  around 
the  little  party  to  stare  and  gaze  at  the  white  men,  Barnum  never 
exhibited  a  greater  curiosity  than  they  were  to  the  simple  natives 
of  Snodon.  Some  examined  their  shoes  to  see  if  they  were  hoofs 
or  bear-skin  moccasins,  and  others  felt  of  their  noses  to  see  if 
they  had  bones  in  them.  An  old  squaw  wanted  to  wash  Mr.  Eas- 
ley's  blue  eyes  to  learn  if  they  were  painted  that  color,  and  be- 
came indignant  because  he  would  not  allow  her  to  make  the  ex- 
periment. One  boy  proposed  to  stick  a  thorn  in  Mr.  Moore's  leg 
to  know  if  it  would  bleed,  and  another,  more  bold,  actually  pulled 
a  lock  of  Mr.  Strong's  curly  hair  out  of  his  head  to  see  if  both 
ends  grew  in  the  scalp.  This  came  near  causing  serious  trouble; 
but  when  Umausauga  slapped  the  boy  to  the  ground  the  white 
men  thought  it  good  policy  to  do  nothing  themselves.  The  boy's 
name  was  Quakow  and  was  a  stranger  at  Snodon. 

While  the  natives  showed  much  curiosity,  they  manifested  some 
friendship  also.  With  friendly  mind  all  went  even  unpleasantly 
near  except  one  young  girl  who  studiously  remained  at  a  respect- 
able distance,  silent,  thoughtful ;  but  closely  watching  every  move- 
ment made.  She  was  evidently  reading  a  new  chapter  in  the  his- 
tory of  human  life,  and  she  was  puzzled  to  understand  it.  Her 
movements  were  easy  and  graceful,  her  form  unusually  elegant, 
and  her  general  appearance  that  of  a  queen  born  to  command 
without  speaking  and  to  be  obeyed  without  question.  Her  features 
were  regular,  and  a  flood  of  buoyant  life  of  a  soft  red  tinge 
seemed  to  play  over  her  well-rounded  shoulders,  and  flowing 
higher  to  her  slightly  oval  face,  danced  upon  her  cheek  in  open 
revelry.  Her  large  jet-black  eyes  were  intelligent,  and  her  hair, 
without  a  wave,  was  of  the  same  color  and  reached  much  below 
her  waist.  She  wore  a  robe  made  of  fawn  skins,  which,  being 
confined  at  the  waist  by  a  belt  overlaid  with  small  sea  shells,  gave 

54 


the  spots  on  her  dress  Ihat  glittering  appearance  seen  on  the  feath- 
ers of  a  peafowl  when  in  the  sunshine.  On  her  feet  were  dainty 
moccasins  made  of  the  skin  of  a  full  grown  deer,  and  conse- 
quently without  spots. 

These  were  all  very  distinguishing  features  to  find  in  that  wild, 
isolated  region,  deep  in  the  seemingly  boundless  forest  where  no 
Anglo-Saxon  foot  had  ever  trod  before !  Still  another  significant 
feature  was  that  the  wild-wood  beauty  wore  a  three-fold  string  of 
beads  around  her  neck — small,  white,  red  and  blue  beads !  "Was 
she  some  mystical  being  who  had  been  wafted  thither  by  a  passing 
zephyr  from  some  enchanted  island  of  a  far  southern  sea  ?  No ! 
No !  not  that.  The  white  men  knew  the  beads.  From  the  center  of 
the  lowest  fold  hung  a  large  scarlet  bead  which  rested  upon  the 
bosom  of  her  spotted  robe  as  if  satisfied  to  remain  there  forever. 
They  knew  that  it  was  the  central  bead  of  the  string  sent  by  them 
to  Umausauga's  daughter  whom  they  had  never  seen.  So  the 
beautiful  girl  thus  surrounded  by  savages  was  Banna ! 

'*0  my  God!"  exclaimed  Josiah  Strong  as  he  turned  his  eyes 
away  for  a  moment,  "can  it  be  that  such  a  creature  is  herself  a 
savage?" 

Among  the  few  who  lived  at  Snodon  were  Etohautee,  Umau- 
sauga's brother,  and  his  son,  Tata,  who  was  something  more  than 
half  grown.  They  lived  in  an  old,  dilapidated  wigwam  which 
stood  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Winder  College  Build- 
ing. Near  the  wigwam  was  a  large  rock  pillar  built  of  huge 
stones  dressed  well  enough  to  remain  in  position  readily.  It  was 
about  eight  feet  square  at  the  base,  tapered  to  some  six  feet  at  the 
top,  and  was  perhaps  a  little  more  than  ten  feet  high.  Through  the 
lower  half  was  an  opening  in  the  form  of  an  arch  about  three 
feet  wide,  and  the  upper  half  was  hollow  like  a  chimney  through 
which  the  top  was  reached.  The  opening  at  the  base  was  pro- 
vided with  shelving  rocks  which  seemed  to  have  served  the  pur- 
pose of  seats  as  well  as  a  ready  means  of  reaching  the  opening 
above. 

When  Umausauga  was  asked  to  explain  the  purpose  of  the  pil- 
lar, he  only  said,  "Nere  Nara,"  shook  his  head,  chased  gathering 
tears  from  his  eyes,  and  turned  away  sadly. 

55 


Another  strange  feature  about  Snodon  was  its  neglected,  dilapi- 
dated appearance.  Though  doubtless  once  a  thriving  community, 
the  few  remaining  wigwams  had  begun  to  fall  down,  its  corn 
patches  were  uncultivated,  and  its  once  well-worn  footpaths  were 
overgrown  with  weeds  and  briers. 

When  ready  to  leave  the  place,  Umausauga  held  a  brief  conver- 
sation with  his  pretty  daughter,  but  nothing  they  said  was  heard 
by  the  white  men.  It  was  noticed,  however,  that  his  demeanor 
towards  her  was  kind  and  affectionate,  and  that  her  attention  to 
him  was  that  of  an  obedient  and  loving  child. 

' '  How  strange !  how  very  strange,  that  we  should  have  such  an 
illustration  of  filial  affection  and  parental  love  in  this  God-for- 
saken part  of  the  world,"  said  Josiah  Strong  as  his  companions 
walked  away,  and  casting  a  long,  lingering  look  at  the  beautiful 
girl,  he  joined  them  hurriedly. 

Etohautee  and  his  son,  Tata,  accompanied  the  surveying  party 
back  to  Calamit,  the  beginning  corner.  Th.e  whites  were  puzzled 
to  know  why  the  boy  carried  a  chunk  of  fire  and  a  short  hickory 
stick  burned  to  a  point  at  one  end.  Unlike  other  mysteries  of 
the  day,  that  was  soon  solved.  Arriving  at  the  place  the  Indians 
with  a  sharp  stick  and  their  hands  soon  dug  a  hole  large  enough  to 
bury  the  corner  rock  so  to  as  prevent  its  easy  removal.  The  par- 
ties then  seated  themselves  in  a  circle  near  the  big  tree, 
Umausauga  filled  his  huge  pipe  made  in  the  shape  of  a  flying 
pigeon,  Tata  touched  it  with  fire,  and  the  ceremony  necessary  to 
confirm  the  land  trade  began,  not  by  written  document  and  offi- 
cial signature ;  but  by  smoking  the  calumet,  the  pipe  of  peace. 

Each  man  present,  six  in  all,  took  one  whiff,  and  so  on,  in- 
creasing one  every  time  until  the  sixth  round  was  made.  Thus 
the  trade  was  confirmed  by  a  process  as  binding  on  an  Indian  as 
any  legal  document  is  on  a  white  man.  Though  unwritten,  Indian 
law  was  sometimes  very  precise.  Etohautee  and  Tata  were  the 
witnesses — an  old  man  to  see  that  the  work  was  done  properly, 
and  a  boy  to  transmit  it  to  a  future  generation. 

The  trade  being  thus  sealed,  Umausauga  received  14  pounds  of 
beads  in  payment  of  his  land,  that  is,  one-eighth  of  a  quintal 
avoirdupois  as  was  counted  in  those  days.    Etohautee  and  his  son 

60 


each  received  several  j^ards  of  blue  cloth,  and  the  boy  a  Barlow 
knife,  extra.  The  boy  valued  the  knife  much  more  highly  than 
the  white  men  valued  their  land,  and  voluntarily  bound  him  to 
them  with  hooks  of  steel  that  never,  either  bent  or  broke.  Again 
the  pipe  went  around.  Each  one  present  took  six  distinct  puffs, 
and  blew  the  smoke  upwards  that  all  might  be  endoAved  with  the 
spirit  of  peace  which  it  was  supposed  to  impart.  The  first  smoke 
sealed  the  trade  and  the  second  showed  that  both  parties  were 
satisfied  with  it.  The  Indians  gave  their  usual  grunts,  and  going, 
single  file,  in  the  direction  of  Snodon,  they  walked  away  silently. 

In  addition  to  the  curious  features  already  mentioned,  the  ad- 
venturers, being  left  to  themselves,  began  to  consider  others 
which  they  did  not  clearly  understand.  Being  far  beyond  the 
reach  of  any  well-known  friends,  and  surrounded  by  savages  whom 
they  knew  to  be  crafty  and  treacherous,  it  was  quite  necessary 
that  they  should  be  on  guard  at  every  turning  and  ready  for  ac- 
tion at  a  moment's  warning.  Though  Umausauga  had  manifested 
strong  friendship,  and  shown  consummate  skill  as  a  woodman,  he 
had  that  day  constantly  acted  as  if  apprehensive  of  danger.  He 
did  not  talk  in  the  forest  and  when  they  spoke  he  placed  his  fore 
finger  on  his  lips  and  shook  his  head.  Then  why  had  they  not 
seen  a  native  until  they  reached  Snodon,  and  why  had  he  allowed 
them  more  land  than  they  wanted?  Why  had  he  made  it  in  form 
of  a  triangle  when  some  other  shape  would  have  been  more  prac- 
tical? Why  had  he  selected  a  territory  that  included  Snodon 
where  all  the  people  they  had  seen  were  living,  and  where  stood 
the  curious  rock  pillar  that  brought  tears  to  his  eyes?  These 
were  some  of  the  things  that  puzzled  them  and  continued  to  do 
so  for  a  long  time. 

Weary  and  a  little  anxious  the  pioneers  returned  to  their  tent 
at  Jasacathor,  and  setting  a  watch  they  slept  by  turns  that  night. 
As  their  larder  was  scantily  supplied  just  at  that  time,  they  de- 
voted a  part  of  the  next  day  to  hunting;  and  after  killing  a  fine 
buck  and  several  turkeys  they  returned  home  to  find  that  a  com- 
pany of  nine  fresh  emigrants  had  just  arrived  from  the  low  coun- 
try, all  being  relatives  or  other  personal  friends.  It  consisted  of 
Mrs.  Martha  Easley,  wife  of  Richard  Easley,  Mrs.  Letty  Moore, 

57 


wife  of  Abednego  Moore  and  sister  of  Josiah  Strong,  Thelan  Lah- 
goon,  his  wife  Orpah  and  their  daughter  Ruth  who  was  nearly- 
grown,  Leon  Shore  and  Abel  Trent,  both  young  men,  Joseph  Starr 
and  Edward  Belknap,  bachelors. 

Besides  other  things  of  prime  importance  the  late  emigrants 
brought  with  them  four  horses,  two  wagons,  four  head  of  cattle, 
four  sheep,  six  pigs,  a  good  supply  of  tools,  ten  new  rifles,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  ammunition. 

The  little  colony  now  consisted  of  eight  brave  and  determined 
men,  and  of  four  equally  brave  and  resolute  women,  and  every 
one  with  a  dead  shot  with  the  rifle.  Richard  Easley,  Abednego 
Moore,  Josiah  Strong,  Phelan  Lahgoon,  Joseph  Starr  and  Edward 
Belknap  were  all  revolutionary  soldiers,  fresh  from  the  field  of 
battle. 

The  following  resolutions  passed  at  a  meeting  called  to  con- 
sider the  public  welfare,  will  serve  to  show  something  of  the 
spirit  of  these  hardy  pioneers : 

"RESOLVED  FIRST:  That  this  colony  shall  be  known  as  the 
Talasee  Colony  in  the  State  of  Georgia  and  County  of  Franklin ; 
that  in  the  name  of  said  state  we  now  take  formal  possession  of 
that  part  of  its  territory  lying  and  being  on  the  north  side  of 
Tishmaugu  river,  to  the  extent  of  two  miles  above  and  two  miles 
below  Talasee  Shoals  on  said  river,  and  thence  two  miles  north 
of  it  to  west  and  east  rock  corners  placed  there  to  define  said 
boundaries ;  that  we  proceed  at  once  to  improve  the  same  as  time 
and  circumstances  may  allow,  by  clearing  land,  building  houses, 
and,  when  thought  necessary,  a  substantial  fort  for  our  protection. 

"SECOND:  That  no  person  who  is  not  of  good  moral  character 
and  of  industrious  habits,  shall  become  a  citizen  of  this  colony; 
that  one  proving  himself  or  herself  to  be  unworthy,  shall  be 
driven  away  by  force,  if  necessary. 

"THIRD:  That  the  land  lately  purchased  from  Umausauga,  a 
native  resident  of  this  community,  beginning  at  Calamit  on  the 
Okoloco  Trail ;  thence  northwest  to  Talapahoo,  on  the  head  waters 
of  Taurulaboole  creek;   thence  west  to   Poganip   on  said  trail; 

58 


thenee  easterly  down  the  trail  to  the  beginning  rock  corner  at 
Calamit,  will  not  be  occupied  by  any  member  of  this  colony  until 
further  developments  may  justify  us  in  doing  so;  that  other  emi- 
grants who  are  peacefully  and  industriously  inclined,  have  per- 
mission to  settle  there  at  any  time  and  place  they  may  see  proper, 
provided  always  that  they  do  not  trespass  upon  the  claims  of  the 
said  Umausauga;  that  in  consideration  of  the  price  paid  for  the 
land  whose  boundaries  are  herein  given  it  shall  be  called  Bead- 
land.  RICHARD  EASLEY,  President. 

"MRS.  LETTY  MOORE,  Secretary. 

"October  20th,  1786." 

It  doubtless  seemed  anomalous  to  the  purchasers  of  Beadland 
that  so  large  a  territory  should  be  bought  for  fourteen  pounds  of 
beads ;  but  it  was  by  no  means  an  isolated  case  in  history.  When 
our  forefathers  purchased  the  site  of  New  York  of  the  Indians, 
the  price  was  a  peck  of  glass  beads  and  brass  buttons.  All 
Chicago  was  bought  for  a  pair  of  old  boots,  and  the  ground  upon 
which  Milbourne,  one  of  the  richest  cities  of  Australia,  now  stands, 
was  sold  for  two  old  woolen  blankets.  When  Queen  Dido  first 
set  foot  on  African  soil,  she  told  the  natives  that  she  only  wanted 
a  patch  of  land  big  enough  to  be  inclosed  in  a  bull's  hide,  and  a 
contract  was  made  on  those  terms.  But  the  crafty  queen  cut  the 
hide  into  leather  shoe  strings,  and  tying  them  together  took  in  all 
the  land  upon  which  ancient  Carthage  stood,  and  the  price  paid 
for  it  was  less  than  one  dollar  of  our  currency.  Up  to  about  1840 
the  tax  rate  on  Beadland  and  surrounding  territory  was  based  on 
a  valuation  of  from  614  to  121^  cents  per  acre. 


50 


CHAPTER  II. 

Johnson  Josiah  Strong  Makes  a  Discovery. 

As  the  days  passed  into  months  material  changes  took  place 
among  the  Talasee  colonists.  Though  few  in  number,  they  had 
good  tools  and  every  man  knew  how  to  use  them.  From  sun  to 
sun  and  sometimes  far  into  the  night,  the  men  labored  so  con- 
stantly that  they  soon  had  a  sufficient  number  of  substantial  log 
cabins  completed  to  live  comfortably,  and,  as  they  believed  in 
security.  Ruth  Lahgoon  had  brought  with  her  two  powerful 
dogs  called  Pyth  and  Damon,  and  as  all  the  women  were  experts 
with  their  rifles,  they  and  the  dogs  kept  a  bountiful  supply  of 
meat  on  hand  which  left  the  men  little  to  do  besides  clearing  land 
and  building  houses. 

The  social  condition  of  the  colonists  also  soon  began  to  improve. 
Various  natives,  some  of  them  of  high  rank  in  their  nation,  often 
visited  them — a  few  from  friendly  motives  and  others  as  a  matter 
of  mere  curiosity.  So  far  no  hostility  had  been  shown.  Seem- 
ingly to  encourage  the  social  feature,  one  day  Josiah  Strong,  after 
some  hesitation  and  much  circumlocutiom,  said  to  Mrs.  Moore: 
"Sister,  though  Umausauga  is  a  savage,  he  seems  to  be  our  friend, 
and  as  the  time  may  come  when  his  services  would  be  of  great 
value  to  us,  I  wish  you  would  visit  him  and  open  friendly  re 
lations  with  his  daughter,  of  whom  I  believe  you  have  heard.  1 
dare  say  you  will  like  her,  and  if  you  should,  then  take  Ruth  with 
you  so  that  the  girls  may  become  acquainted,  and  perhaps 
enjoy  each  other's  company."  Mrs.  Moore  gave  her  brother  a 
searching  glance,  smiled,  and  said  playfully,  "Since  you  show 
yourself  to  be  such  a  splendid  diplomatist,  why  not  go  yourself, 
Josiah?" 

"Well,  I  could  do  that,"  said  the  brother  demurely,  "but  my 
diplomatic  code  teaches  me  that  one  woman  should  deal  with 
another  in  all  such  cases  as  this.  Besides,  since  I  think  of  it,  the 
girl  has,  or  I  suppose  she  yet  has,  enough  real  fine  merino  to 
make  her  an  elegant  dress.     "We  sent  the  cloth  by  her  father  be- 

60 


i 


fore  we  had  seen  her,  and  our  kindness  has  certainly  had  a  good 
effect.  Of  course  she  does  not  know  what  to  do  with  such  a 
charming  dress  pattern,  and  it  is  a  shame  for  it  to  be  used  as  a 
mere  wrapper.  Then  please  go,  sister,  and  in  your  own  charming 
way,  offer  to  cut  and  make  her  a  dress  in  first-class  style,  and  I  am 
free  to  say  you'll  never  regret  it." 

*'It  may  be,  Josiah,  that  the  girl  is  not  as  ignorant  as  you  sup- 
pose her  to  be.  I  have  heard  that  she  is  very  handsome  and  that 
her  deportment  approaches  that  of  a  refined  lady." 

''I  don't  think  Banna  a  fool;  but  as  her  father  told  me  that 
she  is  a  native  of  the  wilderness  and  had  never  been  anywhere 
else,  I  take  it  for  granted  that  she  knows  nothing  of  English  man- 
ners and  customs.  I  gladly  admit  that  her  deportment  seems  to 
approach  elegance  and  refinement;  but  I  can  account  for  it  only 
on  the  theory  that  God  in  his  providence  has,  for  some  reason,  im- 
planted something  in  her  nature  that  is  as  broad  as  earth  and  as 
high  as  heaven.  Then  so  much  the  belter  and  greater  the  reason 
why  you  should  comply  with  my  request." 

"Granted;  but  how  would  it  do  to  have  such  a  pretty  girl,  dress- 
ed as  you  want  Banna  to  be,  here  in  this  wilderness  with  three 
such  hotheaded  young  men  as  you,  Leon  Shore  and  Abe  Trent 
are?" 

"Why  not  include  Joe  Starr  and  Ed  Belknap?"  "Oh!  they  are 
such  incorrigible  old  bachelors  they  would  not  be  in  the  way.  If 
you  want  heavy  work  done  or  a  hard  battle  fought,  call  on  Joe 
and  Ed;  but  not  to  make  love  to  a  girl." 

"That  seems  to  be  true;  but  you  need  fear  no  rivalry.  Ruth 
has  the  exclusive  control  of  the  hearts,  heads,  hands  and  feet  of 
Leon  Shore  and  Abel  Trent.  She  is  the  prime  cause  of  them  being 
here.  As  you  say  they  are  both  so  hot-headed  that  I  sometimes 
feel  concerned  about  the  final  result." 

A  pause  followed.  Brother  and  sister  seemed  to  be  pondering 
over  all  they  had  said,  and  speculating  upon  the  probable  out- 
come of  the  future.  Finally  the  sister  said  thoughtfully,  "I  admit 
that  some  of  your  argument  is  very  good,  especially  that  part  of 
it  which  pleads  for  the  friendship  of  the  natives  around  us. 
Therefore,  with  some  misgivings  I  consent  to  comply  with  your 

61 


request  at  a  convenient  time  during  to-morrow  afternoon."  "I 
thank  you,  sister,  and  again  say  you  will  not  regret  it,"  replied 
the  young  man  in  tones  of  deepest  thankfulness. 

The  truth  was  Mr.  Strong  had,  at  first  sight,  fallen  deeply  in 
love  with  the  shy  Indian  girl  whom  he  had  seen  at  the  old  town 
of  Snodon.  Though  a  strong  man  he  fought  against  it  with  all 
his  power ;  but  like  Banquo  's  ghost,  it  would  not  down.  Unsought 
and  unbidden,  an  unfaltering  love  for  the  unknown  girl  entered 
into  every  fibre  of  his  heart  and  took  full  possession.  Gentle  as  a 
lamb  among  his  friends  and  as  dreadful  as  a  maddened  lion  amid 
his  enemies,  it  was  strange  that  an  untaught  child  of  the  forest 
should  bring  him  to  his  knees  at  the  first  shot ;  but,  even  in  spite 
of  himself,  it  was  so. 

Johnson  Josiah  Strong  was  our  hero's  full  name;  but  the  first 
part  is  generally  omitted  in  this  narrative  because  he  seldom  used 
it  himself,  perhaps  for  the  reason  that  his  uncle,  Gov.  Josiah  Tat- 
nall,  for  whom  he  was  named,  had  also  dropped  Johnson  on  ac- 
count of  its  inconvenient  length. 

Josiah  Strong  was  an  ensign  at  the  siege  of  Augusta  where  he 
carried  the  national  standard  with  distinguished  bravery,  and  had 
one  finger  shot  from  his  left  hand.  He  was  22  years  old  at  the 
time  of  his  arrival  at  Talasee,  stood  six  feet  and  four  inches  in 
his  shoes,  and  was  well  proportioned.  He  was  as  fearless  as  he 
was  strong  and  athletic,  and  as  fleet  on  foot  as  any  man  that  ever 
ran  against  him.  Beneath  a  rich  profusion  of  curly  black  hair 
there  flashed  a  pair  of  coal-black  eyes  that  always  commanded 
respect  and  attention.  Yet  he  had  a  kind  heart  and  a  sympathetic 
nature  which,  when  added  to  his  handsome  features,  caused  him  to 
have  many  close  friends. 

The  to-morrow  evening  of  which  Mr.  Strong  and  his  sister  had 
spoken  came  none  too  soon  for  the  anxious  brother.  They  went 
to  the  shoals  at  the  time  appointed,  silent  and  thoughtful.  There 
being  neither  bridge  nor  foot-log  across  the  water,  Mrs.  Moore, 
seated  upon  her  brother's  strong  right  arm  was  quickly  carried 
to  the  opposite  bank.  Though  Umausaugua  could  speak  broken 
English  to  a  limited  extent,  they  decided  upon  such  Creek  words 
as  they  thought  would  be  necessary  to  use  on  the  occasion.    The 

62 


Indian's  wigwam  which  they  had  learned  was  called  Adabor, 
stood  on  the  hill,  solitary  and  unadorned,  something  more  than 
two  hundred  yards  from  the  shoals. 

Waving,  as  was  sometimes  the  custom  of  a  peaceful  visitor,  a 
white  handkerchief,  Mrs.  Moore  slowly  and  a  little  anxiously, 
approached  the  humble  home  of  her  neighbor.  Uraausauga 
recognized  her  at  once  and  offered  his  hand  which  was  eagerly 
grasped  by  the  lady.  Neither  knew  much  of  the  other's  language ; 
but  they  managed  to  be  understood  reasonably  well. 

When  Mrs.  Moore  entered  the  wigwam,  a  young  girl  was  seat- 
ed upon  a  bear's  hide  which  was  spread  upon  the  ground  floor  to 
its  full  extent.  She  wore  a  robe  of  spotted  red  deer  skins,  and 
being  gathered  at  the  waist  by  a  blood  red  belt  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, the  effect  was  really  charming.  She  still  wore  the  threefold 
strand  of  beads ;  but  the  large  scarlet  one  rested  upon  her  throat 
instead  of  her  breast  as  before.  She  was  busily  engaged  in  making 
a  fox  skin  moccasin,  and  judging  by  one  already  completed,  the 
work  was  being  neatly  and  substantially  done. 

In  strict  accordance  with  Indian  etiquette  the  girl  did  not  raise 
her  head.  Understanding  the  cause  of  this  reserve  Mrs.  Moore 
kneeled  upon  the  bear  skin  and  offered  her  hand.  It  was  quickly 
grasped,  and  their  eyes  met.  A  moment  more  and  they  were 
in  each  other's  arms;  and  being  unable  to  think  of  anything  more 
appropriate,  the  visitor  sang,  in  tones  of  soft  and  mellow  cadence, 
the  good  old  song  of  Barbary  Allen.  Who  fails  to  know  that 
music  thrills  the  savage  heart  no  less  than  that  of  the  philosopher? 
Its  rhythmic  sweep  carries  all  creatures  along  with  it  from  the 
tiny  insect  that  burrows  in  the  ground  to  the  lordly  lion  that 
roams  upon  its  surface.  Thus  it  was  when  a  Christian  woman 
first  met  a  child  of  nature  in  the  wilderness,  and  thus  it  was,  when 
many  years  after,  they  parted  for  the  last  time  and  both  were  fol- 
lowers of  the  Man  of  Sorrows.  IIow  strangely  different  from  the 
usual  meeting  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  with  the  Red  Man  of  the  west. 

Umausauga  was  deeply  affected  by  the  scene  just  witnessed, 
and  so  was  a  stranger  whom  Mrs.  Moore  had  not  seen  until  she 
arose  from  the  bear-skin  mat.  He  was  leaning  against  the  wall  of 
the  wigwam  in  a  somewhat  darkened  corner,  and  evidently  much 

63 


excited  also.  She  judged  him  to  be  of  medium  size,  of  slender  form 
and  quite  young.  His  dress  was  composed  of  skins  of  various 
kinds,  and  around  his  neck  and  waist  were  belts  from  which 
hung  bear  and  eagle  claws  alternately.  On  the  back  of  his  head 
was  a  kind  of  pad  which  projected,  in  bristling  array,  a  row  of 
long  eagle  feathers.  A  tomahawk,  bow  and  small  quiver  of  ar- 
rows were  lying  near  his  feet,  and  seemed  to  be  in  excellent  condi- 
tion. His  name  was  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco,  Ir-tir-mir-mir-mis-co,  is 
perhaps,  as  near  as  the  English  can  speak  it. 

Lying  on  the  bear  skin  was  a  small  mussel  shell  exquisitely 
polished  and  the  parts  apparently  still  united  by  the  usual  liga- 
ment or  hinge  on  one  side.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  girl  took 
a  string  from  the  eye  of  her  bone  needle  and  carefully  tied  it 
around  the  shell.  Then  watching  for  an  opportunity  when  the 
strange  young  Indian  was  not  looking  at  her,  she  quickly  con- 
cealed it  in  the  folds  of  her  robe,  or  maybe  in  a  pocket.  While 
tying  the  shell,  Mrs.  Moore  noticed  that  the  girl  used  the  words 
eto  thaska  which,  unfortunately,  were  not  in  the  list  furnished  by 
her  brother;  but  seeing  a  package  which  was  evidently  the  red 
merino  cloth  tied  with  a  deer  skin  throng,  she  pointed  to  the 
bundle  and  said  "eto  thasca."  The  girl  looked  surprised,  but 
without  hesitation  untied  the  package  and  spread  the  cloth  be- 
fore her  strange  visitor. 

It  was  now  that  Mrs.  Moore  learned  that  Banna,  the  girl  whom 
she  found  sitting  on  a  bear  skin,  could  speak  broken  English,  even 
better  than  her  father,  her  accent  being  clearer  and  more  distinct. 
Having  already  accomplished  the  first  part  of  her  mission  by  se- 
curing the  good  will  of  a  neighboring  family,  she  found  it  an  easy 
matter  to  effect  the  second  part,  even  without  using  half  the 
Creek  words  she  had  learned  for  the  purpose. 

The  result  was  that  Banna  readily  understood  what  her  visitor 
wanted,  and  was  glad  to  have  a  dress  made  in  first-class  style  and 
in  accordance  with  the  fashion  of  the  times,  that  is  to  say,  a  closely 
fitting  bodice,  ample  skirt  and  flowing  sleeves.  Having  taken  the 
necessary  measurements,  and  promising  to  return,  as  in  modern 
times,  every  day  or  so  until  the  fit  was  completed,  ]\Irs.  Moore, 

64 


carrying  the  merino  cloth  with  her,  took  leave  of  her  friends  and 
joined  her  brother  at  the  river. 

"0  Josiah!"  she  said,  with  an  anxious  tone,  "I  hardly  know 
what  to  say.  That  girl  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  as  well  as  most 
lovely  beings  I  ever  saw.  Though  a  savage,  she  seems  to  have 
some  knowledge  of  civilization.  There  must  be  some  mistake !  I 
do  not  believe  she  is  an  Indian!"  "Then  why  do  you  call  her  a 
savage?"  asked  the  brother  dubiously.  "Oh,  some  mysterious  fate 
has  placed  her  in  savage  hands.  Now  I  think  of  it,  I  am  more 
than  half  ashamed  I  called  her  one.  Why  she  speaks  a  few  Eng- 
lish words  with  a  sweet,  musical  accent  that  is  charming.  Be- 
sides her  long,  Avavy  hair  convinces  me  that  she  does  not  belong 
to  the  red  race.  Then  too,  an  Indian  is  incapable  of  giving  the 
clean-cut  enunciation  that  she  gives  to  some  of  the  words  she 
speaks.  Forgive  me  for  calling  her  a  savage."  "I  freely  forgive 
you.  I  did  not  know  that  Banna  knew  any  English  words  at  all ; 
but  I  do  know  that  her  hair  is  as  straight  as  an  arrow — there  is 
neither  wave  nor  curl  about  it.  And  I  fully  believe  she  is  a  full- 
blood  Indian."  "Why  brother,  you  are  mistaken.  Only  a  few 
minutes  ago  I  twined  my  own  fingers  among  her  silken  tresses, 
and  they  were  as  full  of  waves  as  the  ocean  when  a  gentle  breeze 
plays  over  it.  And  I  well  remember  that  when  I  was  smoothing 
them  over  her  forehead  I  could  see  her  Saxon  blood  playing  hide 
and  seek  beneath  her  sunburned  features,  for  Banna  the  Beauti- 
ful, as  I  must  hereafter  call  her,  knows  nothing  of  wearing  a  bon- 
net. It  was  then,  too,  she,  for  the  first  time,  turned  her  large, 
lustrous  eyes  full  upon  me.  They  were  soft  and  liquid  as  those 
of  a  gazelle,  and  as  I  returned  the  look,  deep  and  sympathetic  as 
heart  can  feel,  tears  gathered  in  them.  In  all  America  there  is  not 
a  native  from  whom  a  pale  face  can  thus  draw  a  single  tear." 

"Have  it  your  own  way  for  the  present,  hetiy.  A  few  hours  or 
days  at  most  may  decide  which  is  right.  Banna's  English  is  sur- 
prising to  me;  but  is  easily  accounted  for.  Her  father  lived  for 
several  months  on  the  coast  when  he  naturally  picked  up  the 
little  he  knows  of  our  language,  and  in  turn  his  daughter  has 
learned  it  from  him.  As  to  the  play  of  her  blood,  her  musical 
accent  and  the  gathering  of  tears  in  her  luminous  eyes,  I  attri- 

65 


bute  all  that  to  her  superior  nature  whioh,  from  the  little  I  have 
seen  and  all  you  have  told  me,  I  readily  grant.  As  to  her  hair 
you  are  simply  mistaken  about  that ;  but  wavy  or  straight  means 
nothing  to  me.  I  am  truly  glad  that  you  too,  love  her.  So  it  only 
remains  for  me  to  acknowledge  the  'corn'  and  ask  you  to  help 
me  win  her  heart  as  she  has  mine.    Say,  Letty,  will  you  help  me?" 

Mrs.  Moore  was  seated  on  a  way-side  rock  where  she  mused 
long  and  tearfully  before  answering.  When  a  little  composed  she 
looked  up  and  with  quivering  lips  answered,  "It  seems  strange 
and  sudden  to  say  so ;  but  I  can  only  answer  j'es !  A  very  queen 
should  be  proud  to  own  her  as  a  sister,  even  if  she  were  an 
Indian !" 

When  the  grateful  brother  had  expressed  his  thanks,  his  sister 
gave  him  a  full  account  of  her  visit,  saying  in  part,  "I  found  and 
left  at  the  wigwam  a  fellow  whom  I  suppose  story  writers  would 
call  a  young  Indian  brave.  He  sported  about  all  the  old  toggery 
of  his  race,  together  with  a  terrible  name  so  long  that  I  do  not 
remember  it.  I  believe  he  is  making  love  to  our  Banna,  and  if  so, 
it  may  mean  trouble  in  the  future." 

"Never  mind  about  that.  Umausauga  has  incident ly  mention- 
ed that  fellow  to  me.  Though  a  sub-chief,  apparently,  I  have 
learned  that  he  is  not  in  favor  at  Adabor."  "I'm  glad  of  that; 
and  have  another  incident  to  mention  that  greatly  excites  my 
curiosity.  When  I  first  approached  Banna  I  happened  to  notice 
a  mussel  shell,  such  as  we  see  on  the  rocks  here,  but  well  polished, 
lying  half  concealed  on  her  bear  skin  seat.  For  some  reason  she 
slyly  concealed  it  in  a  fold  of  her  wrapper.  I  am  anxious  to  know 
what  is  in  it,  not  merely  to  satisfy  a  woman's  curiosity;  but  to 
confirm  my  belief  that  the  little  incident  means  something  of  im- 
portance.   Should  you  ever  learn  what  was  in  it,  please  tell  me." 

"Certainly—" 

They  were  joined  by  Leon  Shore  and  Ruth  Lahgoon,  and  the 
subject  was  dropped  for  the  time.  All  four  of  the  ladies  belonging 
to  the  colony  were  good  with  the  needle,  but  Letty  Moore  was  a 
professional  seamstress.  All  eagerly  began  work  on  the  first 
fashionable  dress  ever  made  inside  the  present  limits  of  Jackson 
County.     When  it  was  cut  and  basted  together  Mrs.  Moore  re- 

66 


turned  to  the  wigwam  on  the  hill  to  see  if  the  fit  was  satisfac- 
tory. The  form  to  be  fitted  was  so  nearly  perfect  that  no  altera- 
tions were  necessary.  While  this  was  surprising,  it  was  more  so 
to  find  that  the  girl's  hair  was,  after  all,  "as  straight  as  an 
arroAv, ' ' 

While  in  vain  looking  around  for  the  mysterious  shell,  the 
neigh  of  a  horse  was  heard  in  the  woods  near  by.  Though  wonder- 
ing why  a  horse  should  be  in  that  secluded  forest,  the  lady  thought 
it  imprudent  to  ask  questions,  and  returned  home.  She  reluc- 
tantly acknowledged  that  the  hair  of  her  idolized  girl  was 
straight;  but  was  ready  to  be  qualified  that  it  was  full  of  waves 
when  she  saw  her  before. 

The  report  that  a  strange  horse  was  in  the  neighboring  forest 
created  some  suspicion,  and  curious  to  say,  Ruth  Lahgoou  was 
selected  to  investigate  the  matter.  This  young  woman,  then  in 
her  seventeenth  year,  was  an  anomalous  combination  of  female 
modesty  and  loveliness,  and  of  indomitable  courage  and  heroic 
fortitude.  Though  a  small  girl,  she  was  as  active  as  the  prover- 
bial cat,  and  to  repluse  her  was  to  invite  another  battle  more  fierce 
than  before.  As  an  expert  with  the  rifle  and  as  a  rider  on  horse- 
back, whether  over  the  open  field  or  through  the  tangled 
forest,  she  had  no  superior.  And  Ruth  was  a  very  beautiful  girl. 
Her  golden  hair  which  fell  in  rich,  curling  ringlets  over  her  ex- 
quisitely formed  shoulders,  and  her  deep  blue  eyes,  mild  when  in 
repose,  but  flashing  defiance  when  aroused,  set  off  her  florid  com- 
plexion to  great  advantage.  Her  smile  and  her  manners  brought 
most  men  to  her  feet.  The  only  reason  why  Josiah  Strong  had 
not,  years  before,  loved  Ruth  Lahgoon,  was  because  he  knew  that 
her  heart  had,  almost  from  childhood,  belonged  to  Leon  Shore, 
one  of  his  best  personal  friends. 

The  day  following  Letty  Moore's  second  visit  to  Adabor  was  an 
ideal  one  for  a  bold  horseback  gallop  through  the  woods.  The 
morning  was  fair  and  balmy,  and  save  the  wash  of  the  water  over 
the  rocks,  not  a  sound  was  heard  to  break  the  reigning  silence. 
No  one  in  all  the  world,  either  ancient  or  modern,  had  ever 
thought  of  the  rattle  and  clash  of  the  machinery  that  now  manu- 

67 


faetures  lightning  there  to  run  complicated  systems  of  wheels 
and  pulleys  many  miles  away. 

As  Ruth  stood  at  the  side  of  Alborak,  her  beautiful  black  horse, 
the  scenes  around  her  meant  more  than  the  whirr  of  all  the  ma- 
chinery in  the  world.  By  common  consent  he  was  all  her  own. 
She  had  trained  him  from  a  colt  and  ridden  him  all  the  way  from 
the  seacoast  to  within  plain  view  of  the  mountains.  Though  large 
and  powerful,  he  yielded  to  every  pull  of  the  rein,  understood  and 
obeyed  all  her  commands,  and  when  left  to  himself  followed  her 
as  a  shadow.  Often  when  seen  running  in  the  distance  his  feet 
did  not  seem  to  touch  the  ground,  and  his  powers  of  endurance 
were  unknown. 

Alborak 's  equipment  was  a  light  double-reined  bridle  with 
martingale  to  match.  His  saddle  was  light  also,  and  of  English 
make.  Around  its  right  side  was  a  half  hoop  made  of  whalebone. 
A  light  rifle  was  strapped  to  the  hoop,  and  from  the  right  horn  of 
the  saddle  hung  a  long  knife  in  a  steel  scabbard.  His  head,  trim 
and  tapering  to  the  muzzle,  was  held  high,  and  now  and  then  he 
clamped  his  bits.  He  was  waiting  for  the  signal  to  be  off  and 
away. 

His  mistress  still  stood  at  his  side,  tapping  the  toe  of  her  dainty 
boot  with  a  small  rattan  which  she  sometimes  carried.  She  wore 
a  closely  fitting  buckskin  habit,  that  the  brush  through  which  she 
often  dashed  might  not  tear  her  dress.  On  her  head  was  a  jaunty 
cap  from  which  fluttered  a  single  white  ribbon,  and  in  which  her 
curly  hair  was  carefully  rolled,  the  cap  being  held  in  place  by  a 
strap  beneath  her  chin.  Thus  arrayed  she  too,  was  waiting — 
waiting  for  her  dogs,  Pyth  and  Damon,  that  were  trailing  a  fox  in 
the  distant  woods. 

Becoming  impatient,  she  gave  a  long,  keen  blast  with  the  hunt- 
ing horn  that  hung  at  her  side,  and  presently  the  dogs  appeared 
at  a  full  run.  One  bound  and  their  mistress  was  in  the  saddle  and 
at  once  horse,  rider,  dogs  and  all  were  off  at  a  brisk  trot. 

Hitherto  Ruth  had  not  crosed  the  river,  though  she  had  per- 
mission of  the  lord  over  there  to  do  so  at  will ;  and  now  that  her 
delegated  mission  to  search  for  the  unknown  horse  led  her  into  the 
excluded  territory,  she  boldly  rode  towards  the  shoals. 

68 


Having  been  pilotted  across  the  river  by  Leon  Shore,  of  whose 
services  she  had  no  more  need  on  that  occasion  than  she  had  for 
another  horse,  she  went  west,  intending  to  make  a  detour  to  the 
left  and  return  by  way  of  Adabor.  In  that  way  she  hoped  to 
learn  something  of  the  strange  horse  and  at  the  same  time  gratify 
her  anxiety  to  see  the  famous  beauty  of  whom  she  had  heard  so 
much. 

As  the  bold  heroine  advanced  she  became  lost  in  thought.  The 
huge  trees  with  their  ponderous  branches  reaching  far  and  wide 
as  if  to  grasp  everything  around  them  in  their  embrace,  obscured 
the  sun  above  and  dwarfed  all  undergrowth  below  them.  From 
their  cool  shade  wild  animals  of  various  kinds  scurried  away  in 
all  directions,  and  they  were  so  numerous  that  a  constant  effort 
was  required  to  keep  the  dogs  from  following  them.  Life  in  a 
vast  primeval  forest  through  which  only  the  savage  has  roamed, 
and  where  the  sound  of  the  huntsman's  horn  and  the  bay  of  his 
hound  have  never  been  heard,  is  at  once  grand,  solemn  and  im- 
pressive. 

Such  was  the  situation  of  Ruth  Lahgoon,  the  gentle,  and  yet 
heroic  huntress  from  south  Georgia.  But  Ruth  was  not  looking 
for  game  that  day.  However  she  had  unstrapped  her  rifle  and  was 
carrying  it  in  her  hand,  ready  for  any  emergency  that  was  likely 
to  occur.  When  descending  into  a  deep  ravine  she  noticed  that 
Damon's  hair  was  standing  erect  on  his  back,  and  that  he  stopped 
and  began  to  sniff  the  air.  Presently  he  trotted  to  the  left  in 
hostile  attitude,  and  looking  in  that  direction,  she  discovered  a 
panther  preparing  to  spring  upon  the  dog  from  a  horizontal  limb 
of  one  of  the  great  trees.  Instantly  the  crack  of  a  rifle,  perhaps 
the  first  that  had  ever  awoke  the  sleeping  echoes  of  that  gloomy 
forest,  pierced  the  still  morning  air.  With  a  death-scream  the 
animal  fell  to  the  ground  in  dying  struggles.  Snatching  her 
hunting  knife  from  its  scabbard,  both  she  and  Pyth  hastened  to 
the  rescue  of  Damon.  But  the  knife  was  unnecessary,  the  beast 
was  quickly  torn  into  fragments. 

Having  tasted  blood  the  dogs  were  still  more  anxious  for  the 
chase.  They  constantly  watched  their  mistress  for  the  signal  of 
pursuit.    It  was  not  given  and  the  dogs  did  not  go. 

69 


The  passing  of  the  panther  aroused  the  solitary  girl  from  her 
reverie.  Consulting  a  pocket  compass  which  she  always  carried 
when  in  the  woods,  she  found  that  she  had  gone  too  far  to  the 
west.  However  when  on  Alborak  distance  signified  little  to  his 
rider.  She  had  heard  that  the  Okoloco  Trail  was  to  the  south, 
and  wishing  to  strike  it,  rode  in  that  direction.  Having  gone  sev- 
eral miles,  her  horse  stopped  suddenly  and  gave  a  low,  sharp 
snort.  She  had  never  known  him  to  do  that  way  before.  With 
one  forefoot  up  the  dogs  stopped  also  and  stood  listening.  Ruth, 
as  if  talking  to  herself,  said  softly:  "What  in  the  world  is  up  noAv 
my  boys?"  She  could  neither  see  nor  hear  anything  unusual. 
Gently  patting  her  horse  on  the  shoulder,  she  continued,  "For- 
ward a  little,  Alborak,  just  a  little,  my  boy."  With  head  erect 
and  nostrils  distended  the  horse  slowly  advanced  as  long  as  he 
felt  the  gentle  tapping.  If  she  had  struck  him  heavily  he  would 
have  been  off  and  away  as  if  on  the  wings  of  the  wind.  But  when 
she  stopped  he  stood  still  and  so  did  the  dogs.  As  yet  neither 
had  shown  any  sign  of  present  danger.  Their  actions  indicated 
surprise  only. 

Just  as  the  wondering  girl  was  thinking  of  another  forward 
movement  she,  to  her  utter  astonishment,  distinctly  saw  a  woman 
flit  like  a  bird,  from  the  ground  to  the  back  of  a  snow-white  horse. 
He  was  standing  with  arched  neck,  inflated  nostrils  and  anxious 
look  beneath  a  large  spreading  tree  about  one  hundred  yards 
distant. 


70 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  AVhite  Ladies  Visit  Adabor. 

No  one  in  any  position  was  ever  any  more  astonished  than  Ruth 
Lahgoon  when,  in  that  dreary  and  infrequently  visited  part  of  the 
country,  she  saw  a  woman  pass  like  a  shadow  from  the  ground 
to  the  back  of  a  horse.  Somehow  she  instinctively  knew  who  the 
strange  woman  was,  and  approaching  nearer,  the  spotted  robe, 
the  long  flowing  hair,  the  well  rounded  shoulders,  the  athletic 
movement,  and  even  the  presence  of  a  horse,  all  united  to  satisfy 
her  that  she  had  unexpectedly  found  the  mysterious  beauty  who 
had  played  such  sad  havoc  with  the  heart  of  a  good  personal 
friend  of  whom  she  had,  more  than  once,  came  near  giving  her 
own.     It  was  Banna  at  Calamit ! 

Remembering  the  flag  of  truce  used  by  Mrs.  Moore  at  Adabor, 
Ruth  waved  her  handkerchief  and  approached  near  the  large 
tree  at  a  slow  walk.  The  white  horse  seemed  anxious  to  advance 
also;  but  his  rider,  evidently  not  knowing  just  what  to  do,  re- 
strained him.  Both  horses  soon  began  to  neigh  as  if  glad  to 
meet  each  other,  and  they  were. 

One  of  the  girls  knew  some  Creek  words  and  the  other  about 
an  ecjual  number  of  English  ones,  and  by  using  them  together 
with  a  multiplicity  of  signs,  they  managed  to  understand  each 
other  fairly  well.  But  to  understand  words  and  signs  was  a 
small  matter  compared  with  another  lesson  thoy  learned  at  this, 
their  first  meeting — to  love  each  other  so  devotedly  that  it  grew 
with  their  growth,  strengthened  with  their  strength,  and  died 
only  when  they  died,  if,  indeed,  such  love  ever  dies.  Verily,  no — 
it  lives  forever! 

As  was  afterwards  learned,  Banna  at  first  thought  that  Ruth 
was  some  good  spirit  who,  because  of  her  beauty  and  loveliness, 
had  been  liberated  from  Nodoroc,  and  that  all  horses  were  white 
until  changed  to  black  by  some  demon  in  that  horrid  place.  It 
was  a  long  time  before  any  of  the  colonists  knew  just  what 
Nodoroc  meant  except  that  it  was  a  very  bad  place.     On  the 

71 


other  hand  Ruth,  though  she  knew  the  Indian  girl  was  not  a 
queen,  thought  that  because  of  her  regal  appearance  as  she  still 
sat  on  her  horse,  ought  to  be  one,  and  acted  accordingly.  Know- 
ing that  the  throne  of  an  Indian  queen  consisted  of  a  grass  mat 
covered  with  white  feathers,  usually  those  of  the  white  crane 
common  to  the  country,  she  spread  her  handkerchief  on  the 
ground  and  motioned  Banna  to  jump  from  her  horse  upon  it. 
Quickly  comprehending  the  honor  intended,  and  not  considering 
herself  worthy  of  it,  she  jumped  with  elegant  ease  a  little  to  one 
side,  and  spreading  her  arms,  the  girls  were  at  once  in  a  long, 
loving  embrace.  The  only  words  spoken  were,  "No  wonder  that 
Mr.  Strong  and  his  sister  love  you!"  It  is  a  remarkable  thing 
that  an  untaught  child  of  nature  should  refuse  an  offered  honor, 
and  at  the  same  time  show  her  gratitude  for  it  by  embracing  one 
whom  she  was  just  beginning  to  learn  was  not  a  spirit,  but  a  real 
being  like  herself.  Though  the  result  was  not  expected,  both 
girls  were  always  proud  of  their  first  meeting  beneath  the  great 
spreading  tree  at  Calamit,  the  Place  of  Rest. 

When  at  last  they  thought  of  their  soquillas,  the  word  for 
horses  in  both  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  languages,  they  saw 
them  eating  grass  near  together.  Their  long  isolation  from  horse 
society  made  them  feel  close  akin.    No  doubt  of  that. 

* '  The  twin  sisters, ' '  as  Banna  and  Ruth  were  afterwards  called, 
seated  themselves  on  the  rock  corner  of  Beadland,  and  entered 
into  a  long  conversation  by  using  such  words  as  they  knew  and 
by  making  such  signs  as  were  necessary.  While  thus  engaged 
two  Indians  came  walking  along  the  trail,  and,  seeing  the  girls, 
both  went  near  and  one  of  them,  whom  Ruth  knew  by  Mrs. 
Moore's  description  was  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco,  asked  Banna  if  she 
was  traveling  homeward  or  towards  Snodon.  The  answer  being 
somewhat  evasive,  was  unsatisfactory,  and  the  fellow  whose  name 
is  too  long  to  be  often  repeated,  squatted  flat  upon  the  ground 
at  the  girl's  feet,  spoke  something  of  his  love  and  of  his  intention 
to  visit  her  father  about  night. 

The  conduct  of  one  seemed  to  enbolden  the  other,  whose  name 
turned  out  to  be  Wokolog,  and  he  too  squatted  at  Ruth's  feet.  As 
he  did  so  he  passed  one  hand  over  her  cheek  and  began  to  toy 

72 


with  the  rattan  which  she  still  carried.  Quick  as  thought  she 
drew  a  long,  glittering  stiletto,  such  as  many  Italian  women  carry 
to  this  day,  and  such  as  many  Americans  ought  still  to  carry, 
from  her  bosom,  and  threw  back  her  arm  ready  to  strike;  but  the 
flashing  blue  eyes  that  seemed  to  look  through  him  and  the  dag- 
ger that  glittered  in  her  steady  hand,  sent  him  backwards  be- 
yond striking  distance,  where  he  gained  his  feet  and  walked  away 
sullenly.  The  other  was  evidently  much  astonished,  but  also 
went  away  laughing  at  the  discomfiture  of  his  companion. 

While  seated  on  the  rock  Ruth  learned  several  things  that  were 
interesting  to  her.  She  had  hoped  to  forever  settle  the  dispute 
about  Banna's  hair,  and  she  had  settled  the  matter  well  enough 
to  know  that  sometimes  it  was  straight  and  sometimes  it  was 
wavy.  When  she  first  met  her,  the  first  thing  noticed  was  the 
girl's  long,  silken  tresses  of  entirely  straight  hair.  While  seated 
together  she  carefully  noted  that  it  was  full  of  waves — beautiful 
waves  which  followed  each  other  in  constant  succession  from  one 
end  to  the  other.  So  Mr.  Strong  and  his  sister  were  both  right, 
but  how,  she  could  not  understand. 

Another  discovery  made  was  that  while  the  Indian  girl,  if  she 
were  an  Indian,  still  wore  the  threefold  strand  of  beads,  there 
was  a  fourth  strand  of  plaited  hair,  apparently  from  her  own 
head,  around  her  neck,  and  that  to  this  strand  was  suspended 
just  such  a  mussel  shell  as  Mrs.  Moore  had  described.  A  singular 
feature  was  that  the  wearer  was  careful  to  keep  the  shell  con- 
cealed under  the  collar  of  her  wrapper,  but  did  not  always  suc- 
ceed in  doing  so. 

Still  another  discovery  that  afforded  the  observant  Ruth  much 
satisfaction  was  the  cold  and  distant  manner  in  which  Banna 
received  the  advances  of  the  long-named  Indian.  After  he  went 
away  she  did  not  hesitate  to  say  how  much  her  father  disliked 
both  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco  and  Wokolog,  the  latter  being  so  named 
because  the  word  is  applied  to  anything  known  to  the  Indian 
mind  as  low,  mean  and  cunning. 

Ruth  Lahgoon  had  allowed  the  fire  that  once  burned  in  her 
breast  for  Josiah  Strong  to  smoulder  in  ashes ;  but  she  was  still 
his  devoted  friend,  and  never  failed  to  work  in  his  favor  on  all 

73 


proper  occasions.  Hence  lier  gladness  to  learn  that  there  was 
no  chance  for  the  Indian  to  supplant  him.  Indeed  the  nature  of 
both  girls  revolted  at  the  thought. 

The  sun  was  far  on  his  western  journey  when  Ruth  consulted 
her  compass  and  pointed  towards  the  shoals.  The  other  under- 
stood the  significance  of  the  action,  and  in  the  musical  tones  on 
which  Mrs.  Moore  so  fondly  dwelt,  called  out,  "Iro!  Iro!"  The 
white  horse  quickly  ran  to  her,  and  lightly  stroking  his  forehead, 
she  again  repeated  his  name  in  low  and  gentle  tones  as  musical 
as  before. 

"So  Iro  is  the  name  of  her  pretty  horse.  He  is  doubtless  the 
one  heard  by  Mrs.  Moore,  and  finding  him  in  possession  of  her 
well-loved  girl,  my  mission  is  accomplished,"  was  the  mental 
conclusion  of  Ruth.  "Iro!  Iro!"  she  repeaded,  to  impress  the 
name  on  her  mind.  Iro  was  indeed  a  beautiful  animal.  Though 
not  so  large  as  Alborak,  he  was  of  good  size,  and  as  elegantly 
formed.  He  was  a  pure  white  except  his  mane  and  tail  which 
were  of  a  light  canary  hue.  The  yellow  tint  was  afterwards 
found  to  be  artificial;  but  it  certainly  enhanced  the  beauty  of  the 
animal,  and  was  then  as  appropriate  for  a  white  horse  as  the 
painting  of  a  lady's  face  is  now.  The  training  of  Iro  and  Albo- 
rak was  different ;  but  the  result  was  the  same.  The  white  came 
when  his  name  was  called,  the  black  when  he  heard  a  peculiar 
whistle  given  by  his  mistress,  and  by  her  only. 

Iro's  equipment  consisted  of  a  bridle  and  a  sidesaddle,  both 
of  Spanish  make.  From  tlie  right  hand  horn  of  the  saddle  hung 
a  bow  and  a  small  quiver  of  arrows.  It  had  no  hoop,  but  a  toma- 
hawk of  curious  shape  was  tied  to  the  rear.  On  the  small  right- 
hand  skirt  the  flag  of  Spain  was  imprinted  in  good  style.  Be- 
neath the  flag  was  the  following  inscription :  DON  MAR  DE 
VEDO  X  ELANCYDYNE. 

As  the  girls  rode  away,  they  presented  a  striking  appearance. 
Two  such  horses  carrjdng  two  such  riders  had  never  been  seen 
in  a  wilderness  before,  perhaps  nowhere  else.  Any  woman  looks 
better  on  horseback  than  she  does  in  a  palace,  and  when  both 
horse  and  rider  have  an  elegant  appearance  the  eifect  is  very 

74 


pleasing.    And  thus,  as  Banna  and  Ruth  rode  homeward,  talking 
and  making  signs  as  if  in  all  their  glory,  it  was  proven  that — 

"When  two  kindred  strings  are  tuned  alike, 
To    move    them    both    but    one    we    strike." 

When  Adabor  was  reached  it  was  plain  that  neither  the  horses 
nor  their  mistresses  were  willing  to  separate;  but  after  a  long, 
fondly  lingering  look  at  each  other  they  separated  with  tears  in 
their  eyes.  When  Ruth  reached  the  shoals  she  found  Leon  Shore 
and  Abe  Trent  both  waiting  there  for  her.  Poor,  anxious,  con- 
siderate fellows !  Notwithstanding  the  girl  had  passed  through 
enough  during  the  day  to  try  the  nerves  of  the  strongest  man, 
they  thought  she  needed  help  to  ford  a  small  stream !  A  bullet 
is  blind,  and  so  is  love ! 

At  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  of  hearing  Ruth's  report, 
a  "vote  of  thanks  was  tendered  the  heroine  of  the  day  for  faithful 
performance  of  duty,"  and  on  motion  of  Josiah  Strong,  three 
hearty  cheers  were  given  in  her  honor.  Had  a  modern  talking 
machine  been  used,  how  curious  it  would  be  to  hear  those  cheers 
as  they  were  given  more  than  a  century  ago.  Are  they  forever 
lost?  Or  will  the  great  expected  achievements  of  the  twentieth 
century  unroll  them  to  mortal  ears? 

Ruth's  adventures  that  day  furnished  themes  for  many  discus- 
sions. What  was  the  significance  of  the  carefully  concealed  mus- 
sel shell?  Where  did  the  white  horse  and  the  Spanish  saddle 
come  from?  And  what  did  the  curious  inscription  on  the  saddle 
mean?  How  did  the  girl  get  possession  of  them?  And  why  was 
her  hair  changeable?  These  were  some  of  the  questions  that  Mrs. 
Moore,  because  of  her  deep  insight  into  curious  things,  was  asked 
to  answer.  "I  can  not,"  replied  that  lady,  "answer  all  your 
questions;  but  the  changes  in  the  dear  girl's  hair  prove,  as  I 
have  before  told  you,  that  she  is  not  an  Indian,  though  I  can  not 
account  for  the  change.  Moreover  the  Spanish  saddle  and  the 
emblems  on  it,  and  now  I  think  of  it,  the  type  of  her  features 
convince  me  that  she  is  of  Spanish  descent  with  a  distinct  mix- 
ture of  aristocratic  English  blood." 

75 


"Sister,"  replied  Josiah,  "you  are  getting  along  first  rate  with 
your  advanced  theories;  but  after  all  I  should  not  be  surprised 
to  find  that  changeable  hair  is  characteristic  of  Indian  beauties. 
"Whether  Indiaij,  Spanish  or  English,  I  love  Banna  the  Beautiful 
with  all  my  heart,  and  no  race  distinction  can  change  me." 

"We  do  not,"  said  Kuth  after  a  pause,  "blame  you,  and  are 
anxious  to  do  anything  we  can  in  your  favor." 

"That  greatly  encourages  me,  and  I  thank  you  in  advance  for 
your  services.  It  only  remains  for  you  and  Letty  to  arrange 
some  plan  that  will  enable  me  to  meet  her  as  if  by  chance.  I  will 
do  the  rest."  "We  can  easily  do  that,"  said  Ruth,  and  the  inter- 
view closed  sans  ceremonie. 

On  the  day  following  the  interview  the  merino  dress  was  com- 
pleted. The  finishing  touches  were  made  by  the  deft  fingers  of 
Ruth  Lahgoon  who  was  a  "needle  work  designer,"  as  those  who 
did  artistic  work  with  the  needle  were  called  at  that  time. 
Around  the  bottom  of  the  skirt  was  wrought  a  lovely  wreath  of 
green,  white  and  blue  beads.  On  the  bosom  was  a  similar  design 
in  oval  form,  and  in  the  center  of  that  was  a  monogram  composed 
of  the  initial  letters  R.  B.,  an  emblem  of  mutual  love.  The  sleeves 
were  also  ornamented  with  modest  flowers  wrought,  not  with 
beads,  but  with  silk  thread  of  various  colors.  Such  was  the  dress 
made  for  a  savage  girl, — the  native  of  a  wilderness  where  the 
name  of  God  had  never  been  heard  until  a  short  time  before  and 
of  whose  attributes  she  knew  nothing.  For  some  reason  her 
superior  form  and  features  were  so  cast  by  the  God  whom  she 
did  not  know,  that  the  light  that  irradiated  them  from  within  was 
the  handiwork  of  the  same  GREAT  FIRST  CAUSE ; 

"Who  rules  and  regulates 

And  guides  this  vast  machine, 
And  governs  wills,  and  times  and  fates — 
Ketires  and  works  unseen." 

The  dress  being  completed  Mrs.  Moore  and  Ruth  made  a  formal 
visit  to  Adabor.  They  found  Banna  alone,  and  she  received  them 
with  gladness.  However,  they  soon  noticed  that  she  became  a 
little  disconcerted  because  her  hair  was  again  without  a  wave, 

76 


and  for  the  first  time  she  discovered  that  her  white  iriends  were 
astonished  at  the  change.  When  the  glittering  merino  garment 
was  spread  before  the  wondering  girl,  she  was  so  nervous  by 
emotions  perhaps  unknown  to  the  tutored  mind,  that  she  sat 
down  and  wept  like  a  child.  There  in  the  deep  umbrageous  soli- 
tudes of  nature,  far  away  from  the  strife  and  turmoil  of  stren- 
uous human  life,  followed  a  touching  scene.  Both  visitors  kneel- 
ed at  the  weeping  girl,  and  placing  their  arms  upon  her  shoulders 
and  their  heads  against  her  heaving  breast,  the  trio  wept  together 
— one  in  grateful  remembrance  of  her  friends,  the  others  in  deep 
sympathy  with  her  sweet,  sensitive  nature. 

When  restored  to  a  normal  condition  Ruth  dressed  Banna's 
hair,  and  a  delicate  piece  of  net-work  consisting  of  braids  and 
curious  plaits  was  the  result.  But  the  artist's  fingers  trembled 
as  she  deftly  manipulated  the  long  black  tresses — she  could  see 
and  even  feel  the  waves  returning. 

"Eureka!  I  have  found  it!"  exclaimed  Mrs.  Moore  who  was 
watching  the  waves  as  they  came  into  view  slowly.  "Found 
what?"  the  artist  asked  anxiously.  "That  her  hair  changes  when 
it  comes  in  close  contact  with  people  of  her  own  race.  Such  has 
been  the  case  every  time  that  either  of  us  has  been  near  her; 
another  proof  that  she  is  not  an  aboriginee  of  this  country." 
"I  am,"  said  Ruth,  "more  than  half  convinced  that  you  are  right; 
but  why  does  our  touch  produce  such  a  curious  result?"  "Tell 
me  why  the  saw-brier  and  many  other  plants  close  their  leaves 
when  we  touch  them?  A  touch  often  means  more  than  we  can 
understand.  At  least  one  astronomer  has  said  that  if  we  could 
touch  a  star  it  would  fly  out  of  its  orbit.  But  to  be  plain,  I  can 
not  answer  your  question.  While  a  truth  is  revealed,  the  mystery 
deepens.    The  why  must  go  unanswered." 

The  bright  girl  knew  that  her  hair  was  the  subject  of  conversa- 
tion, and  she  was  embarrassed ;  but  the  smiles  and  kisses  of  Ruth 
caused  her  great  luminous  eyes  to  look  upon  her  friends  as  charm- 
ingly as  before. 

The  fit  of  the  new  dress  was  perfect.  As  Mrs.  Moore  finished 
adjusting  the  skirt  she  stepped  back  and  said,  "Oh,  that  brother 

77 


could  see  you  now !    You  are  so  radiantly  beautiful.    I  never  be- 
fore felt  the  full  force  of  Gray's  musical  lines — 

"  'Full  many  a  gem  of  purest  ray  serene, 

The  dark  unfathomed  caves  of  ocean  bear — 
Full  many  a  flower  is  born  to  blush  unseen, 
And  waste  its  sweetness  on  the  desert  air!'  " 

A  deep  silence  followed  this  quotation  from  Gray's  Elegy,  be- 
cause the  scene  was  really  impressive.  At  last  Ruth  said,  ' '  Though 
she  bloomed  in  a  desert  we  intend  to  transfer  her  to  a  garden, 
where  tender  hands  and  loving  hearts  will  cultivate  the  rare 
flower  until  she  blooms  afresh  in  Heaven." 

As  Banna  did  not  understand  half  what  was  said  in  reference 
to  her,  she  looked  bewildered;  and  to  change  the  current  of  her 
thoughts,  Ruth  presented  her  with  a  toilet  set,  consisting  of  a 
small  mirror,  comb,  brush  and  a  few  other  articles.  She  was 
shown  how  to  use  them,  and  for  the  first  time,  saw  herself  in  a 
looking-glass.  Hitherto  she  had  seen  her  own  image  only  as  re- 
flected by  the  smooth  water  of  the  Tishmaugu  just  before  it  went 
tumbling  over  the  shoals. 

Perhaps  that  was  the  only  way  mother  Eve  ever  saw  her  fair 
face,  and  as  to  that  matter,  father  Adam,  too.  Yet  they  lived  a 
long  time.  Having  studied  the  toilet  articles  one  by  one,  the  girl 
began  to  realize  the  worth  of  her  pale-face  sister,  and  said 
thoughtfully,  "I  do  what  for  things  so  good,  so  pretty?"  Ruth 
knew  what  she  meant,  and  hastened  to  inform  her  that  all  was 
the  gift  of  love  and  that  nothing  would  be  received  in  payment. 
She  looked  astonished  and  clasped  both  visitors  in  her  arms  say- 
ing, ''Will  have  little  gift,  you?" 

When  told  that  a  small  present  would  be  received,  not  in  pay- 
ment, but  as  a  token  of  love,  she  produced  a  roll  of  coarse  grass 
cloth  which  contained  several  pairs  of  moccasins  made  of  beaver 
skin  with  the  fur  on.  They  were  lined  with  the  same  soft  and 
pliant  material.  Around  the  tops  were  single  rows  of  small  sea 
shells  evidently  from  a  distant  shore.  The  workmanship  was  neat 
and  substantial,  and  the  shape  much  the  same  as  shoes  of  that 
day,  that  is  to  say,  they  were  not  ''rights  and  lefts."     Having 

78 


selected  pairs  of  proper  size,  the  ladies  received  the  gifts  with 
sincere  thankfulness.  They  represented  them  as  warm  and  pleas- 
ant to  the  feet,  and  wearing  them  on  rare  occasions  ouly  they 
kept  them  as  long  as  they  lived.  It  may  be  interesting  to  know 
that  these  moccasins  were  exhibited  in  a  Lapsidalian  basket  at  a 
county  fair  held  at  Jefferson  in  1835,  when  Gen.  David  M.  Burns 
was  chairman,  and  William  Gathright,  secretary. 

While  selecting  the  moccasins  Umausauga  made  his  appearance 
with  bow  and  arrows  in  one  hand  and  a  turkey  in  the  other.  As 
he  surveyed  his  daughter  in  her  new  attire  his  huge  frame  began 
to  tremble,  but  there  was  no  frown  on  his  tawny  brow.  Riveting 
his  keen  and  restless  black  eyes  upon  her,  he  continued  to  gaze 
until,  sinking  lower  and  lower,  he  sat  sprawling  on  the  floor. 
When  tired  of  his  comical  position  he  gave  one  of  his  native 
grunts  and  began  to  walk  from  side  to  side  of  the  wigwam.  His 
demeanor  satisfied  the  anxious  guests  that  he  was  proud  of  the 
wonderful  transformation  of  his  daughter,  but  strange  to  say, 
was  actually  afraid  of  the  looking-glass. 

Having  fully  accomplished  their  mission  the  ladies  left  with 
the  understanding  that  Banna  should  visit  them  at  Fort  Strong 
two  days  hence. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  appointed  for  the  Indian  girl's  visit, 
several  ladies  were  assembled  at  the  humble  but  well-supplied 
home  of  Abednego  Moore. 

"What,"  asked  Mrs.  Moore,  "shall  we  give  our  guest  for  dinner 
to-day?"  "I  do  not  know,"  answered  Ruth,  after  some  reflec- 
tion, "what  Banna  likes  best,  but  she  had  two  broiled  fishes  for 
luncheon  at  Calamit  the  other  day.  She  beats  corn  in  a  mortar 
and  makes  hominy  in  an  earthen  pot.  When  last  with  her  I 
noticed  a  sort  of  mug  full  of  honey  comb,  and  a  ham  of  dried 
venison  near  by  it.  With  these  hints  I  suggest  that  you  and 
mother  spread  such  a  dinner  as  you  think  best." 

Everything  at  Talasee  was  done  methodically.  Nothing  of  gen- 
eral importance  was  attempted  without  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
both  men  and  women.  This  concert  of  action  made  the  little 
colony  strong  in  purpose  and  ready  in  execution.  Ruth's  sug- 
gestion was  accepted  by  all,  and  everything  went  on  smoothly. 

79 


Alborak  soon  carried  his  mistress  to  Adabor  where  she  found 
Banna  a  little  excited  but  ready  to  return  with  her.  "When  called, 
Iro  trotted  near,  and  the  girls  rode  to  the  shoals  where  they  met 
a  delegation  of  ladies  to  bid  their  coming  guest  a  hearty  wel- 
come. Umausauga  had  been  selected  to  accompany  the  party ;  but 
for  some  reason  declined  the  invitation. 

As  soon  as  the  opposite  bank  was  gained  Banna  leaped  from  her 
saddle  and  embraced  in  turn  each  of  the  three  ladies  present  as 
if  she  had  been  a  long-absent  daughter.  A  formal  introduction 
followed,  and  when  Iro's  saddle  had  been  regained  as  easily  as  it 
had  been  left,  Mrs.  Easley,  who  was  a  lady  of  culture  and  refine- 
ment, said: 

"0  Letty!  did  you  see  the  deep  red  blood  playing  hide  and  seek 
in  her  cheeks  as  she  threw  her  arms  around  us?  "Why  has  such 
a  gem  been  so  long  concealed  in  these  dark  and  gloomy  forests?" 

*'For  the  present  echo  only  answers  why.  By  and  by  we  may 
know  the  reason,"  replied  IMrs.  Moore  thoughtfully. 

Having  arrived  in  front  of  the  Moore  residence,  Leon  Shore,  as 
previously  arranged,  approached,  and  taking  Ruth  by  the  hand 
she  lightly  leaped  to  the  ground.  Josiah  Strong  and  Banna  at 
once  followed  the  example,  and  together  the  pairs  walked  into  the 
house.  The  Indian  girl,  as  her  escort  still  more  than  half  be- 
lieved her  to  be,  had  shown  herself  an  apt  scholar  and  a  ready 
imitator  as  well. 

Now  a  great  relief  was  at  hand.  Mr.  Strong  could  speak  the 
Creek  language  almost  as  well  as  Banna  herself.  He  had  indulged 
in  many  a  blissful  thought  which  he  hoped  to  enjoy  while  teach- 
ing her  English,  and  was  almost  sorry  that  she  could  already 
speak  some  words  as  fluently  as  he  could,  though  she  did  not  know 
just  how  to  arrange  them.  To  remedy  this  defect,  he  finally  decided, 
would  be  more  pleasant  than  teaching  the  words,  and  so  his  future 
prospects  grew  brighter  and  brighter  as  they  hastily  passed  before 
his  mental  vision. 

If  he  loved  her  under  as  unfavorable  conditions  as  when  he 
first  saw  her  at  Snodon,  what  were  his  emotions  now  that  she  was 
at  his  side  as  a  guest,  arrayed  in  the  most  elegant  style  of  the 
times?    He  became  lost  in  wondering  thoughts  and  audibly  mut- 

80 


tered:  "More  than  a  butterfly  has  come  from  a  golden  chrysa- 
lis." 

Finally  glancing  at  the  braided,  plaited  network  of  hair  that 
served  so  well  to  show  the  outlines  of  her  symmetrical  shoulders, 
he  discovered  that  it  was  as  full  of  graceful  waves  as  his  own  was 
of  turning,  twisting  curls.  Hitherto  he  had  thought  that  his  sister 
and  Ruth  were  mistaken.  He  knew  that  his  own  hair  was  change- 
able— that  the  curls  were  more  profuse  in  damp  than  in  dry 
weather — but  he  had  never  heard  of  hers  changing  that  way.  This 
together  with  the  fact  that  a  crimson  blush  played  over  her  face 
when  he  first  gave  her  his  hand,  was  enough  to  convince  him  that 
his  sister  was  right.  But  before  making  a  final  decision  he  con- 
cluded to  learn  if  he  could  whether  Indian  girls  in  common  blush- 
ed or  not.  The  truth  was  that  for  some  reason  he  did  not  want 
to  believe  that  Banna  the  Beautiful  was  not  "a  native  to  the 
manor  born." 

Of  course  the  stranger  girl  did  not  know  just  how  to  meet  the 
new  conditions  by  which  she  was  surrounded;  but  the  constant 
attention  of  all  present  and  the  readiness  with  which  she  learned 
and  understood  anything  presented  to  her  mind  helped  her  won- 
derfully. When  she  found  that  ]\Ir.  Strong  could  speak  her  lan- 
guage fluently,  her  eyes  sparkled  with  delight,  and  to  all  appear- 
ance she  greatly  enjoyed  her  visit.  When  he  asked  her  if  she 
rememberd  seeing  him  at  Snodon  sometime  before,  she  quickly 
looked  at  his  head,  as  if  to  prove  his  identity  by  the  missing  lock 
of  hair  pulled  out  by  the  rude  Indian  boy,  and  with  some  con- 
fusion answered,  "YES." 

A  general  conversation  followed  in  which  Mr.  Strong  found 
that  his  visitor  was  anxious  to  learn  all  she  could  of  the  English 
language  and  that  she  Avas  willing  for  him  to  become  her  teacher. 
Thus  the  day  passed  away  pleasantly,  and  a  little  before  sundown 
Mr.  Strong  escorted  the  Guest  of  the  Colony  to  her  secluded  home 
amid  the  great  spreading  trees  just  over  the  river.  The  promises 
of  his  sister  and  friend  had  been  redeemed. 


81 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Identity  of  Banna  Mar  De  Vedo  Is  Found  Out. 

About  sixteen  years  before  the  beginning  of  our  narrative  a  war 
broke  out  betAveeu  the  Cherokee  and  Upper  Creek  Indians.  The 
former  claimed  territory  as  far  south  as  the  Tishmaugu,  and  the 
latter  as  far  north  and  east  as  the  Lacoda  Trail,*  which  was  nearly 
identical  with  the  present  Athens  and  Clarkesville  road.  Their 
first  engagement  was  at  Numerado,  near  the  confluence  of  Hur- 
ricane Creek  and  Etoho  river  above  Hurricane  Shoals.  Araer- 
cides,  apparently  an  Indian  with  a  Greek  name,  was  leader  of  the 
Cherokees,  and  as  gallant  a  brave  as  ever  drew  the  bow.  He  rode 
a  white  horse  and  dashed  from  place  to  place  as  if  trained  on  the 
battlefields  of  Europe. 

Talitchlechee,  commander  of  the  Creeks,  saw  the  mistake,  and 
placing  himself  at  a  favorable  point  awaited  the  expected  oppor- 
tunity. It  soon  came  and  the  Creek  buried  his  tomahawk  in  the 
gallant  leader's  side.  When  the  white  horse  was  seen  running 
riderless  through  the  forest  of  Numerado,  the  Cherokees  began  to 
retreat.  But  soon  the  scene  changed.  Elancydyne,  the  wife  or  as 
she  was  generally  called,  the  queen  of  Amercides,  committing  a 
small  child  that  she  was  holding  in  her  arms  to  the  care  of  an 
attendant,  mounted  the  riderless  horse  and  at  once  took  com- 
mand. She  was  greeted  by  a  yell  from  the  Cherokees  that  echoed 
and  re-echoed  up  and  down  the  river  and  forward  and  back 
across  the  valley.  Soon  the  air  was  thick  with  flying  arrows  and 
whizzing  tomahawks. 

The  conflict  deepened  and  the  battle  raged  on.  The  commander 
was  more  cautious  than  her  fallen  lord,  but  rode  unflinchingly  in 
the  face  of  every  danger.  At  last  the  Creeks,  finding  their  ranks 
so  fatally  thinned,  retreated  hastily.    Another  yell — this  time  the 

*It  was  our  pleasure  to  follow  this  old  trail,  last  summer,  to  Tallulah 
Falls.  Just  a  few  miles  this  side  of  Clarkesville  it  "forks."  One  branch 
extending  northwest  leads  into  the  noted  Nacoochee  country.  The  other 
branch,  leading  on  through .  Clarkesville,  Turnerville  and  the  Tallulah 
country. — Ed. 

82 


yell  of  victory,  reverberated  over  the  hills,  and  the  heroine  of  the 
day,  forgetting  all  things  else,  hastened  to  see  if  her  child  was 
safe.  She  found  it  sleeping  soundly  in  the  arms  of  her  attendant, 
who,  to  shield  the  babe  from  harm,  had  received  an  arrow  deeply 
in  her  own  shoulder.  Her  name  was  Yetha,  and  though  the 
wound  was  thought  to  be  fatal,  she  lived  to  be  very  old. 

Soon  a  band  of  young  warriors  gathered  around  the  queen,  and 
carrying  her  over  the  battlefield,  in  grim  mockery  introduced  her 
to  the  fallen  Creeks  as  their  conqueror — their  beautiful  Elancy- 
dyne. 

Elated  with  their  decisive  victory  the  Cherokees  considered  the 
country  conquered  territory  as  far  as  they  claimed  and  began  a 
march  across  it  to  take  formal  possession.  In  the  meantime,  how- 
ever, the  Creeks  had  received  substantial  recruits,  and  Talitch- 
lechee  being  a  wily  old  chief  of  long  experience,  the  enterprise 
was  doubtful.  His  enemy,  still  led  by  what  her  followers  con- 
sidered their  invincible  new  queen,  moved  slowly  and  cautiously 
forward  until  they  reached  the  verge  of  the  plateau  which  dips  to 
Cold  Spring,  then  known  as  Rodoata,  near  the  John  Harrison  old 
place,  where  they  met  Talitchleehee  in  command  of  a  larger  force 
than  at  Numerado. 

The  Creeks  gave  the  gage  of  battle  and  soon  the  engagement 
became  general.  Though  queen  Elancydyne  showed  that  she  was 
a  skillful  and  fearless  leader,  she  was  finally  overcome  l)y  num- 
bers, and  by  a  master  piece  of  strategy  made  a  flank  movement, 
and  going  still  forward,  camped  that  night  at  Arharra  on  the 
plain  where  Prospect  Church  now  stands  and  within  hearing  of 
the  waters  of  the  Tishmaugu,  the  object  of  her  expedition.  This 
singular  movement  on  the  part  of  an  enemy  who  had  shown  such 
consummate  skill  so  puzzled  Talitchleehee  that  he  hesitated  to 
offer  battle  as  he  had  done  at  Rodoata.  The  next  morning,  how- 
ever, an  accident  brought  on  a  general  engagement  with  varying 
success.  This  continued  at  intervals  until  noon  when  the  Creek 
chief  sent  Umausauga,  one  of  his  trusted  braves,  to  conceal  a  num- 
ber of  expert  bowmen  in  the  branches  of  some  spreading  trees  that 
grew  in  an  adjacent  forest.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  conflict 
again  became  general. 

83 


Elancydyne  on  her  white  horse  led  the  van,  and  her  example 
so  inspired  her  followers  that  they  gave  another  deafening  yell 
and  rushed  forward  to  engage  at  close  quarters;  but  the  Creeks 
retreated  in  the  direction  of  the  concealed  bowmen.  Again  the 
Cherokee  queen  was  in  the  thickest  of  the  fray  and  soon  fell  from 
her  horse  pierced  by  many  bristling  arrows.  The  wail  of  lament, 
"Onocowah,  Onocowah!"  rising  from  the  field  of  carnage,  dis- 
heartened the  Cherokees,  and  they  in  turn  sullenly  retreated  to 
the  north,  tenderly  carrying  their  fallen  queen  with  them.  If  she 
had  survived  the  battle  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  would  have  been 
the  result. 

About  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  second  party  of  emigrants 
at  Talasee,  various  rumors  reached  Umausauga,  and  through  him 
the  colony,  that  the  Cherokees  were  preparing  to  return  to  the 
country  and  wreak  vengeance  upon  their  enemies  for  their  disas- 
trous defeat  at  Arharra.  Umausauga  at  once  notified  the  leaders 
of  this  people  of  the  threatened  danger,  and  the  colonists  im- 
mediately began  building  a  fort.  When  completed  it  was  a  large, 
substantial  building,  and  in  honor  of  the  man  who  had  worked  al- 
most every  day  and  night  in  the  interest  of  the  colony,  it  was 
named  Fort  Strong. 

About  the  same  time  Fort  Yargo*  was  built  at  a  place  of  thai 
name  about  three  miles  southwest  of  Winder,  the  old  Jug  Tavern. 
Strange  to  say.  Fort  Yargo  is  still  standing  in  a  good  state  of  pres- 
ervation. Though  first  in  Franklin  and  next  in  Jackson;  it  is 
now  in  Walton  County;  and  having  seen  the  coming  and  going 
of  three  generations,  it  is  a  heavy  old  land-mark  which  does  not 
receive  the  attention  it  deserves. 

Notwithstanding  the  number  of  brave,  strong  men  belonging  to 
the  colony,  Banna  the  Beautiful,  and  Kuth  Lahgoon  the  Lovely, 
were  appointed  scouts  to  patrol  the  surrounding  country.     All 

*0n  January  24th,  1914,  the  Editor  visited  this  old  fort  and  found  it  in 
good  state  of  preservation.  It  is  now  used  as  a  dwelling  house  for  tenants 
by  Mr.  T.  M.  Wages,  the  owner.  In  cutting  out  the  doors  and  windows 
preparatory  for  a  dwelling  most  of  the  "port  holes"  were  cut  away  but 
on  the  side  next  to  the  spring  is  one  about  4  inches  by  10  inches.  This  place 
is  only  a  short  distance  from  Carter  Hill  church,  near  the  Winder  and 
Loganville  road. 

84 


the  men  were  needed  for  heavy  work;  besides  none  were  better 
than  these  two  brave  and  skillful  riders.  A  few  days  of  instruction 
by  Mr.  Strong  had  enabled  them  to  converse  with  each  other  read- 
ily, and  they  had  become  equal  experts  with  the  rifle.  They  gen- 
erally went  together  and  always  in  hearing  of  each  other.  As  a 
protection  to  the  women  and  children,  the  dogs,  Pyth  and  Damon, 
were  left  at  home.  Both  wore  deerskin  clothing,  made  to  fit  close- 
ly, and  jaunty  little  caps  of  the  same  material  from  which  gener- 
ally fluttered  a  short  black  ribbon.  They  carried  comparatively 
light  rifles,  long  knives  in  steel  scabbards  hung  from  their  sad- 
dles, and  on  the  left  breast  of  each  the  hilt  of  a  deadly  stiletto 
was  just  visible. 

Thus  equipped,  and  mounted  on  Alborak  and  Iro,  these  scouts 
fearlessly  roamed  the  forests  infested  with  dangerous  wild  beasts 
and  sometimes  with  wilder  men.  They  met  with  many  adven- 
tures, some  of  which  it  is  necessary  to  give  here. 

One  day  when  they  had  been  riding  a  little  apart  about  one 
mile  to  the  north,  they,  by  previous  agreement,  met  at  a  spring 
then  called  Alotha,  but  since  known  as  the  Bell  spring.  It  is  still 
a  copious  fountain,  and  its  crystal  waters  are  always  inviting. 

Banna  was  last  to  arrive,  and  leaping  to  the  ground  as  was 
her  custom,  a  shell  fell  from  a  pocket  in  her  dress.  The  string 
around  it  was  broken  by  the  fall,  the  parts  separated,  and  a  jet 
black  lock  of  curly  hair  was  revealed  to  Ruth's  wondering  gaze. 
Mrs.  Moore's  mystery  was  solved  at  last.  The  disconcerted  girl 
blushed  as  her  companion  had  never  seen  her  blush  before.  She 
did  not  wonder  that  Josiah  Strong  was  enchanted  when  he  saw 
those  dark-hued  cheeks  mantled  with  a  deep  rosy  tint  as  if  bor- 
rowed from  a  sunset  cloud.  When  Ruth  looked  at  her  and  smiled 
pleasantly  the  bewildered  girl  made  a  clean-breast  of  the  matter 
by  saying  in  substance : 

"That  lock  of  hair  was  taken  from  Josiah  Strong's  head  by  a 
mean  Indian  boy  at  Snodon.  When  he  threw  it  away  I  took  pos- 
session of  it  and  intend  to  keep  it  as  long  as  I  live.  When  I  am 
buried  I  want  it  left  lying  on  my  breast.  For  this  reason  only  I 
now  reveal  the  secret." 

85 


That  was  indeed  a  pathetic  confession,  and  Ruth  knew  it  was  an 
honest  one.  She  was  a  very  bright  girl,  and  felt  that  the  senti- 
ments expressed  in  it  were  not  born  in  a  savage  breast.  In- 
dependently of  all  she  had  hitherto  seen  and  heard,  she  was  now 
fully  convinced  that  her  dear  friend,  Banna  the  Beautiful,  was 
not  an  Indian. 

Ruth  reported  her  wonderful  discovery  to  Mr.  Strong  and  his 
sister  only.  To  the  brother  it  seemed  evident  proof  that  the  girl 
who  so  highly  valued  a  lock  of  his  hair  had  loved  him  from  the 
first  as  he  had  her.    In  happy  reverie  he  said : 

"Surely  God  has  not  decreed  that  two  such  streams  should  flow 
in  different  directions ;  and  though  the  race  question  has  nothing 
to  do  with  my  feelings,  I  am  now  convinced,  as  Ruth  was,  that 
Banna  the  Beautiful  is  not  an  Indian."  Mrs.  Moore  was  glad  of 
the  conversion  of  her  brother  and  Ruth  to  her  belief,  and  to  more 
fully  confirm  them  in  it  she  said: 

"Allow  me  to  remind  you  that  our  Savior  knew  all  about  the 
laws  of  nature.  When  speaking  of  good  and  bad  trees  and  of 
their  fruits  he  said,  'Of  thorns  men  do  not  gather  figs,  nor  of  a 
bramble  bush  gather  they  grapes.'  The  teaching  is  as  applicable 
to  Banna  as  it  is  to  a  tree  and  its  fruit.  Jesus  of  Nazareth  made 
no  mistakes." 

When  the  rumor  of  a  Cherokee  invasion  reached  the  country 
Umausauga,  to  the  great  surprise  of  the  colonists,  placed  his 
daughter  under  the  protection  of  the  whites.  No  proposition  was 
ever  more  gladly  accepted ;  and  now  that  all  were  fully  satisfied 
that  she  was  really  not  his  child,  the  council  met  and  passed  the 
following  preamble  and  resolution  unanimously : 

"Whereas,  a  discovery  has  been  made  which  fully  satisfies  this 
colony  that  Banna,  hitherto  known  as  the  daughter  of  our  friend, 
Umausauga,  the  Indian,  does  not  belong  to  his  race : 

"Resolved,  That  Miss  Ruth  Lahgoon,  a  member  of  this  body,  is 
hereby  appointed  to  inform  the  said  Banna  of  the  discovery  made, 
and  direct  that  she  do  so  at  such  time  and  in  such  manner  as 
she  may  deem  proper. 

"J.  Josiah  Strong,  Presiding. 

"Orpah  Lahgoon,  Secretary." 

86 


On  the  morning  following  the  above-mentioned  meeting  the 
Sf'outs  crossed  the  river  and  rode  to  the  west.  As  Rnth  had  for- 
merly traveled  in  that  direction,  she  knew  that  the  country  was 
rough  and  infested  with  dangerous  animals.  Therefore  they  rode 
near  together,  generally  in  single  file,  without  meeting  with  any- 
thing unusual  until  they  reached  the  lower  water  of  Taurulaboole 
(Beech)  creek.  There  as  they  entered  the  dense  forest  that  skirt- 
ed its  banks,  they  discovered  a  little  path  which  led  to  a  cluster  of 
tall  reeds  that  grew  on  a  knoll  a  short  distance  from  the  stream. 
Following  the  path  they  soon  reached  a  curious  structure  almost 
hidden  by  the  reeds  which  grew  close  to  its  walls.  As  they  went 
near  an  opening  which  seemed  to  serve  the  purpose  of  a  door,  a 
wizen-faced  old  man  made  his  appearance  at  the  opening  with  a 
small  bundle  of  split  reeds  in  his  hand.  He  had  never  seen  two  such 
beings  before,  and  as  they  approached  nearer  he  disappeared  in 
the  hut.  However,  when  Banna  told  him  in  his  own  language  that 
no  harm  was  intended,  an  old  sciuaw  came  to  the  door  cautiously. 
She  brought  a  half  finished  basket  in  one  hand  and  an  old,  rusty 
tomahawk  in  the  other.  She  was  hideous  in  appearance  and  evi- 
dently much  older  than  the  man.  Her  skin  appeared  to  be  dry 
on  her  bones,  her  great  butter-teeth  showed  outside  her  thin, 
tightly  drawn  lips,  and  a  tuft  of  hair,  much  like  the  foretop  of  a 
horse,  fell  straggling  over  her  tawny  brow.  Banna  at  once  recog- 
nized her  as  Lapsidali,  a  basket  maker  whom  she  had  sometimes 
seen  at  Adabor. 

Having  long  gazed  with  critical  eyes  at  the  girls  and  their 
horses,  she  laid  down  her  basket  and  tomahawk  on  the  ground  and 
went  nearer.  When  apparently  satisfied  that  there  was  no  danger, 
she  went  still  nearer  and  patted  Iro  on  the  forehead.  Ceasing  to 
caress  the  horse,  she  looked  up  and  carefully  scanned  his  rider's 
features.  Then  she  went  backwards  several  steps,  and  placing 
both  hands  on  her  angular  hips,  she  stood  with  a  far-away  look  as 
if  lost  in  some  over-powering  thought.  Being  unable  to  close  her 
lips,  they  twitched  over  her  great  scurvy-eaten  teeth  as  if  talking 
to  herself.  Finally  she  suddenly  turned  and  called  to  the  little 
old  man  who  was  still  in  the  hut,  and  said  in  substance : 

87 


"Onomaco,  this  girl  on  white  horse  is  certainly  Banna.  Lives  at 
Adabor,  I  have  seen  her  there.  But  she  has  been  changed  to 
butterfly.  That's  to  keep  Cherokees  from  knowing  her.  Two 
white  horses.  Two  queens,  too.  This  white  horse  like  Adar.  The 
other  on  black  horse  is  pale  face.  Lives  at  Shoals.  Flies  through 
the  air.  Spirit  floats  up  and  down  river  every  night.  No  harm 
in  her.     Come  out  here." 

The  old  hag  advanced  to  pat  the  black  horse  also.  Somehow 
Alborak  refused  to  be  petted  by  her,  and  throwing  back  his  ears, 
he  gave  a  short,  vicious  snip  at  her  arm.  The  old  woman  snatched 
up  her  tomahawk,  and  her  movements  indicated  that  she  intended 
to  throw  it  at  the  horse's  head.  Quick  as  thought  the  muzzle  of 
a  rifle  was  thrust  in  her  face.  Perhaps  she  did  not  know  just  what 
that  meant,  but  at  the  click  of  the  lock  she  fled  into  the  hut  and 
crouched  beyond  a  pile  of  baskets. 

When  confidence  was  restored,  the  scouts  examined  the  hut  as 
a  matter  of  curiosity.  It  was  about  ten  feet  square  and  some  six 
feet  high.  Poles  were  set  in  the  ground  from  ten  to  twelve  inches 
apart,  and  the  spaces  between  them  were  filled  with  slender  wil- 
low branches,  basket  fashion.  The  outside  was  roughly  daubed 
with  whitish  clay  mortar  which  seemed  to  be  hard  and  endurable. 
The  roof  was  composed  of  several  layers  of  wahoo  bark  which  was 
held  in  place  by  large  balls  of  the  white  clay  mortar.  As  the  two 
solitary  inhabitants  were  found  to  be  wickiups,  that  is,  cane  basket 
makers,  the  place  was  doubtlessly  selected  because  of  the  dense 
canebrake  that  grew  in  the  vicinity,  and  was  called  Boca,  the 
Creek  word  for  cane. 

The  hut  contained  ciuite  a  number  of  finished  baskets,  and  it 
was  amazing  to  see  with  what  wonderful  skill  they  were  made. 
Onomaco  split  and  dressed  the  cane,  and  Lapsidali,  his  sister, 
colored  and  wove  the  material,  but  never  in  the  presence  of 
another.  The  brilliant  colors  produced  by  her  methods  did  not 
fade,  and  though  many  efforts  were  made  to  learn  her  secret,  the 
old  jade  died  without  revealing  it. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  these  baskets  were  fre- 
quently seen  in  the  possession  of  the  settlers,  and  were  called  Lap- 
sidalian  baskets.     Before  leaving  Boca  the  scouts  made  an  ear- 

88 


nest  effort  to  induce  Lapsidali  to  explain  what  she  meant  in  her 
talk  to  Omonac'o  about  Banna.  She  however  shook  her  head  and 
replied,  "Lapsidali  talk  to  Onomaco,  not  to  young  squaws." 

Being  bothered  about  the  ambiguous  expressions  of  the  old 
woman,  they  resolved  to  return  home  immediately  and  make 
their  report.  Both  were  silent  for  a  time;  but  Ruth,  deeming 
the  opportunity  favorable  for  telling  her  companion  of  the  dis- 
coveries made  in  regard  to  her  race,  decided  to  use  it.  She  began 
by  calling  the  astonished  girl's  attention  to  what  she  had  just 
heard  at  the  hut  concerning  herself,  the  Cherokees,  the  two 
white  horses  and  the  two  queens.  She  then  went  over  all  the 
circumstances  which  had  convinced  Mrs.  Moore,  Mr.  Strong  and 
finally  the  whole  colony,  that  she  did  not  have  one  drop  of  Indian 
blood  in  her  veins,  and  concluded  by  saying:  "I  have  seen  enough 
myself  to  prove  that  you  have  the  same  white  blood  beating  in 
your  heart  that  is  beating  in  mine.  You  may  be  of  foreign  descent 
partly ;  but  if  you  are,  it  comes  from  white  ancestors  whose  blood 
shows  in  all  their  descendants  the  world  over,  and  0  Banna,  I 
am  unable  to  tell  you  how  glad  I  am!" 

Ruth  threw  her  arms  around  her  trembling  friend,  and  to- 
gether they  wept  a  long  time.  At  last  when  the  still  trembling 
girl  was  a  little  composed  she  said  in  substance:  "I  have  some- 
times wondered  why  all  around  me  was  so  different  from  myself. 
I  have  always  thought  Umausauga  my  father.  He  is  good  to  me 
and  has  never  failed  to  treat  me  kindly.  I  have  noticed  that 
other  fathers  make  slaves  of  their  daughters,  while  he  treats  me 
as  a  queen.  I  have  never  before  been  able  to  understand  why 
this  is  so.  I  have  never  known  but  one  other  exception,  and  that 
is  the  case  of  a  girl  who  lives  at  Snodon.  Her  name  is  Mera,  and 
I  want  you  to  visit  her,  for  both  she  and  her  mother  are  very 
lovely.  Mother !  Mother !  How  sweet  and  endearing  the  word ! 
0,  that  I  could  know  something  of  mine !  The  name  must  be  of 
some  akin  to  the  Heaven  of  which  you  and  your  people  so  often 
tell  me.  Somehow  your  strange  revelations  make  me  feel  like 
one  world  had  gone  and  another  had  come.  Must  I  give  up  all 
to  gain  more?  I  know  not  what  to  say  or  do!"  "No!  no!"  re- 
plied Ruth  vehemently,  "you  need  not  give  up  all  you  have.  You 

89 


need  not  give  up  the  man  to  whom  you  owe  so  much !  We  will 
take  you  both  under  our  protection  for  life.  You  have  nothing 
to  fear,  but  much  for  which  you  will  some  day  thank  God  and 
be  glad." 

In  the  midst  of  their  conversation  the  scouts  reached  home, 
and  all  the  colonists,  finding  that  Banna  had  been  informed  of 
her  true  position  in  society,  came  to  encourage  her  upon  entering 
a  new  life.  This  was  of  vast  benefit  to  the  bewildered  girl,  and 
perhaps  saved  her  from  miserable  depths  of  despondency  and 
gloom.  To  change  the  training  of  a  lifetime  is  doubtless  a  hard 
thing  to  do. 

That  night  the  council  met,  and  with  unusual  interest  listened 
to  Ruth  Lahgoon's  report.  The  following  extract  from  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  meeting  was  copied  from  the  original  document 
more  than  sixty  years  ago : 

"Whereas,  the  various  allusions  made  in  the  presence  of  our 
scouts  by  Lapsidali,  the  squaw,  to  the  Cherokees,  the  white  horses 
and  the  queens,  may  mean  something  of  much  importance  to  this 
colony : 

"Resolved,  That  Josiah  Strong  is  hereby  directed  to  inter- 
view the  said  Lapsidali,  and  obtain  such  information  as  he  can 
about  these  matters;  that  Joseph  Starr  shall  visit  our  sister 
colonies  at  Tamacutah  and  Groaning  Rock ;  and  that  Abel  Trent 
visit  Fort  Yargo,  to  secure  an  alliance  with  said  colonies,  assure 
them  of  our  assistance  at  any  time  needed,  and  obtain  such  other 
information  as  may  pertain  to  our  interest. 

"And  be  it  further  Resolved,  That  the  Indian,  Umausauga,  and 
his  hitherto  supposed  daughter,  Banna,  be  solicited  to  become 
citizens  of  this  colony  and  members  of  this  council ;  and  that  the 
discovery  made  in  regard  to  the  unknown  parentage  of  the  latter 
be  revealed  to  the  former  when  the  present  unsettled  state  of  the 
country  passes  away. 

"Signed, 

"Richard  Easley,  President. 
"Martha  Easley,  Secretary." 

90 


Early  on  the  following  morning  Starr  and  Trent  started  on 
their  respective  missions.  In  the  afternoon  Strong  visited  the 
curious  hut  among  the  reeds.  To  his  great  disappointment  not 
a  vestige  of  either  its  inhabitants  or  of  their  work  was  t©  be 
seen.  He  continued  his  visits  for  several  days  in  succession,  and 
always  with  the  same  result. 

As  the  deserted  abode  seemed  to  have  been  in  use  several 
years,  the  solution  of  another  mystery  awaited  the  anxious  colo- 
nists. The  faithful  scouts  roamed  on  foot  about  the  shoals  nearly 
all  the  day  carrying  rifles  in  their  hands.  Poor  Banna,  having 
passed  a  sleepless  night,  was  tossed  upon  a  sea  of  conflicting 
emotions ;  dreams  of  the  wilderness  fleeting  like  a  shadow  to  the 
realities  of  a  new  life  of  which  she  knew  almost  nothing.  Whith- 
er should  she  go?  Which  way  should  she  turn?  Many  brave 
young  warriors  of  the  upper  Creek  Nation,  including  him  of  the 
jaw-breaking  name,  had  fallen  at  her  feet  and  sued  for  her  heart 
and  hand.  Though  she  knew  not  the  reason  why  the  pulsations 
of  her  heart  did  not  beat  in  unison  with  them,  she  felt  a  reason, 
and  loved  them  not.  Her  sensitive  soul,  ethereal  as  the  passing 
zephyr  and  as  invisible  as  the  germ  of  the  delicate  violet,  longed 
for  something  more  refined  that  any  of  them  could  offer.  A  drop 
of  oil  in  mid-ocean  will  not  mix  with  any  of  its  multitudinous 
waves.  Being  utterly  unable  to  catch  even  a  passing  glimpse  of 
what  her  future  life  should  probably  be,  she  instinctively  drew 
the  polished  shell  from  her  bosom,  kissed  it,  and  then  slowly 
returned  the  dear  souvenir  to  its  long  resting  place.  A  smile  as 
if  a  flood  of  sunshine  had  poured  from  an  over-hanging  cloud 
played  over  her  features  for  a  moment,  and  then  as  thoughts  of 
the  strange  past  and  the  uncertain  future  came  to  her  mind,  she 
sadly  joined  her  companion  who  was  gathering  wild  flowers 
some  distance  away. 

Being  a  little  weary  the  girls  went  to  the  shoals,  and  seeing  a 
nice  clean  rock  a  few  feet  from  the  bank,  they  leaped  upon  it, 
and  in  a  reclining  position  watched  the  water  as  it  went  rippling 
by  them.  Presently  a  large  fish,  in  water  so  shallow  that  its  dor- 
sal fins  were  in  plain  view,  came  hurrying  by  without  any  ap- 
parent effort,  and  quickly  disappeared  in  the  deeper  water  be- 

91 


low.  "Like  that  fish  I  know  not  whither  I  am  drifting,"  said 
Banna  thoughtfully,  "Dear,  please  don't  say  that,"  replied 
Ruth  anxiously.  "Any  fish"  she  continued  with  much  earnest- 
ness, "can  float  with  the  current;  but  it  takes  a  splendid  moun- 
tain trout  to  scale  the  rapids  and  strike  for  higher  latitudes  and 
purer  waters.  You,  with  ten  thousand  times  the  advantage  of 
any  fish,  may  do  likewise.  Should  you  meet  with  any  difficul- 
ties on  the  way,  as  did  the  fish  when  it  struck  the  shallow  water, 
I  know  of  a  strong  arm,  a  willing  mind,  and  a  devoted  heart  that 
will  always  be  ready  to  help  you  overcome  them." 

The  girl  did  not  reply  at  once.  She  was  trying  to  understand 
the  meaning  of  her  friend.  Finally  she  asked,  "Where,  0  where 
shall  I  find  such  help  as  that?"  "Josiah  Strong,  a  lock  of  whose 
hair  you  now  carry  in  your  bosom,  is  the  man !  I  know  that  he 
loves  you,  and  only  you,  devotedly,  and  is  longing  for  an  oppor- 
tunity to  tell  you  so."  The  surprised  girl  covered  her  face  with 
both  hands,  and  after  rocking  back  and  forth  for  awhile,  turned 
her  beautiful,  tearful  eyes  upon  her  companion,  and  in  trembling 
tones  said: 

"Dear  one,  may  we  now  go?"  They  lightly  jumped  to  the 
bank,  and  arm  in  arm  walked  to  the  fort,  where  Banna  the 
Beautiful,  for  the  first  time  learned  it  was  to  be  her  future 
home. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Cherokee  Spy. 

In  due  time  Starr  and  Trent  returned  from  their  respective 
missions  and  made  their  reports.  The  latter  found  that  the  Fort 
Yargo  people,  though  few  in  number,  were  well  armed  and  ready 
to  come  to  the  aid  of  Talasee  at  a  moment's  warning,  and  the 
former  reported  substantially  the  same  of  the  colonies  he  visit- 
ed; adding  that  the  citizens  of  Groaning  Rock  had  some  reason 
to  believe  that  a  Cherokee  spy,  going  in  the  direction  of  Talasee, 
had  recently  passed  through  the  country. 

In  view  of  the  information  gained  of  the  probable  spy,  Richard 
Easley  and  Phelan  Lahgoon,  both  of  whom  had  seen  much  hard 
service  in  active  warfare,  offered  to  become  additional  scouts. 
Accordingly  the  next  morning  the  men  rode  to  the  east  and  the 
girls  to  the  north  with  the  understanding  that  the  parties  were 
to  meet  at  Rodoata  (Cold  Spring)  at  such  time  in  the  afternoon 
as  they  could  make  the  junction. 

About  noon  when  the  girls  were  riding  across  the  gentle  slope 
on  which  Crooked  Creek  church  now  stands,  their  horses  stop- 
ped and  stood  listening.  Knowing  that  their  hearing  was  more 
sensitive  than  their  own,  the  girls  remained  quiet  and  anxiously 
awaited  the  result.  Directly  they  discovered  an  Indian  going  in 
the  direction  of  the  spring,  still  there,  but  not  so  bold  and  beau- 
tiful as  then.  Amazed,  both  whispered  "The  Spy!"  "The  Spy!" 
He  was  armed  with  a  tomahawk  only,  and  carrying  that  at  his 
left  side,  they  knew  him  to  be  a  Cherokee. 

Having  apparently  satisfied  himself  that  no  danger  was  lurk- 
ing near,  he  fell  prostrate  at  the  spring  and  began  to  drink.  Just 
then,  with  rifles  ready  for  instant  use,  the  scouts  rushed  upon 
him  with  such  impetuous  dash  that  the  fellow  jumped  the  creek 
near  by  at  one  bound  and  ran  to  the  southeast  with  incredible 
speed.  Thinking  they  might  obtain  some  valuable  information 
from  him  they  did  not  want  to  kill  him  or  even  wound  him  unless 
actually  necessary.  At  full  speed  the  girls  began  the  chase  at  once, 

93 


and  the  Cherokee,  finding  that  he  would  soon  be  overtaken,  stop- 
ped suddenly  and  looked  back.  Perhaps  more  through  habit  than 
design  he  unfortunately  drew  his  tomahawk  from  his  belt,  and 
quick  as  thought  two  bullets  went  crashing  through  his  arm. 
The  weapon  fell  to  the  ground,  and  the  fellow,  finding  that  it 
was  useless  to  run,  suddenly  fell  with  his  face  to  the  ground, 
and  gave  the  Cherokee  wail  of  despair  "Owoeoway!"  Then  the 
Bcouts  knew  that  there  was  no  one  near  who  could  come  to  his 
rescue. 

Doubtless  the  poor  Indian  thought  there  was  no  one  to  help 
him ;  but  he  was  greatly  mistaken.  Hands  far  more  tender  and 
skillful  than  he  had  ever  known  were  there  and  anxious  to  help 
him.  For  their  own  benefit  the  girls  earned  a  roll  of  linen  band- 
ages, various  salves,  pins,  needles  and  thread  to  use  in  case  of 
accidents  to  which  they  were  almost  constantly  liable.  They 
now  found  great  need  of  them,  and  conducting  the  wounded 
man  back  to  the  spring,  they  dressed  his  arm,  and  otherwise 
made  him  as  comfortable  as  possible.  They  found  that  one  bullet 
had  fractured  the  arm  bone  but  did  not  break  it,  and  that  the 
other  had  made  a  severe  flesh  wound.  Their  greatest  difficulty 
was  to  stanch  the  freely  flowing  blood ;  but  by  long  continued  ap- 
plication of  cold  spring  water  they  finally  succeeded.  During 
the  entire  process,  which  of  necessity  must  have  been  very  pain- 
ful, the  Indian  did  not  utter  a  groan  nor  speak  a  word.  The 
most  distinguishing  feature  of  his  conduct  was  that  he  seemed 
unable  to  turn  his  eyes  away  from  Banna.  For  some  reason  he 
was  evidently  overcome  with  wonder  and  amazement. 

When  the  captive  was  a  little  composed  the  girls  leisurely 
conducted  him  to  Talasee  and  turned  him  over  to  Joe  Starr  and 
Ed  Belknap  from  whom  he  was  not  likely  to  escape.  They  then 
hastened  to  Rodoata  that  the  other  scouts  might  find  them  there 
according  to  promise. 

Easley  and  Lahgoon  having  reached  the  vicinity  of  Cherokee 
Corner,  turned  to  the  northwest,  and  crossing  Trail  and  Sandy 
Creeks,  reached  the  plateau  upon  which  Center  is  now  situated, 
without  learning  anything  unusual.  There,  however,  they  met 
with  a  native,  who  informed  them  that  on  the  day  before,  an 

94 


Indian  who  was  supposed  to  be  a  Cherokee,  had  been  seen  going 
in  the  direction  of  Talasee,  and  that  a  runner  had  been  sent  to 
inform  Umausauga  of  the  discovery.  This  caused  the  scouts  to 
hasten  homeward,  and  being  well  mounted,  they  soon  reached 
the  plain  beyond  Etoho  river.  There  they  discovered  the  well 
known  tracks  of  Alborak  and  Iro.  Following  the  still  deeper 
and  deeper  gashes  as  if  made  by  a  furious  charge,  they  came  to 
a  spring  where  blood  was  spattered  all  over  the  rocks  around 
it.  They  groaned  in  despair  and  frantically  called  for  Ruth  and 
Banna.  No  answer  was  returned  and  again  they  groaned  aloud 
and  Mr.  Lahgoon  exclaimed,  ''0  my  God!  have  the  Cherokees 
murdered  my  precious  child  and  her  darling  friend?" 

Just  then  Mr.  Easley  noticed  thpt  the  red  stains  led  across  the 
adjacent  creek.  They  were  quickly  followed  until  a  pool  of 
clotted  blood  was  reached.  Both  scouts  were  unable  to  speak — 
their  hearts  seemed  to  be  still.  Almost  blinded  by  fear  and  appre- 
hension, they  looked  around  for  further  signs.  Though  confused 
by  the  great  number  of  tracks  made  in  the  soft  soil,  they  finally 
discovered  a  trail  that  led  back  toAvards  the  spring.  They  hur- 
riedly followed  the  tracks,  and  reaching  the  creek,  Mr.  Easley 
discovered  a  slip  of  paper  hanging  on  a  bush  that  grew  near  the 
spring.  To  the  unspeakable  joy  of  the  men  there  was  written 
upon  it: 

"Gone  home  with  our  prisoner,  the  spy.  He  is  badly  wounded, 
but  not  fatally.  We  are  not  hurt ;  will  meet  you  in  Rodoata  in 
due  time.  Ruth  and  Banna." 

Both  men  IhreAv  their  hats  high  in  the  air  and  gave  four  lusty 
cheers, — one  each  in  honor  of  the  girls  and  their  horses.  With 
supreme  satisfaction  they  rode  to  Rodoata,  and  finding  Ruth 
and  Banna  already  there,  the  cheers  were  repeated,  and  then 
following  a  series  of  whoops  so  wierd  and  wild  that  turkey 
gobblers  were  heard  answering  them  in  the  distance.  The  four 
scouts  returned  home  together;  and  having  so  quickly  passed 
from  mortal  fear  to  very  gladness,  happier  men  than  Dick  Easley 
than  Phel.  Lahgoon  never  rode  over  the  hills  of  Georgia. 

In  the  meantime  Umausauga  had  been  notified  of  the  capture 
of  the  Cherokee,  and  at  once  visited  him  at  Fort  Strong.     He 

95 


was  accompanied  by  Notha  Neva,  the  runner  who  had  been  sent 
to  inform  him  that  a  stranger  had  been  seen  in  the  country.  In 
personal  appearance  this  Indian  was  far  superior  to  any  others 
seen  in  the  country,  and  while  he  had  the  step  and  the  hair  pe- 
culiar to  the  natives,  he  did  not  resemble  them  in  any  other 
respects. 

Silent  and  moody,  as  if  his  thoughts  were  far  away,  the  pris- 
oner refused  to  speak  to  any  one.  That  somewhat  exasperated 
those  who  had  him  in  charge,  but  they  patiently  awaited  the 
action  of  the  council.  That  body  met  at  an  early  hour,  and  for 
the  first  time  Umausauga  consented  to  be  present.  Notha  Neva 
also  remained,  and  the  two  Indians  were  offered  front  seats,  but 
refused  to  accept  them. 

The  captive  occupied  a  seat  near  the  president,  and  turning 
his  keen  black  eyes  upon  vacant  space  before  him,  he  seemed 
to  be  utterly  oblivious  of  the  presence  of  others.  He  did  not 
have  a  bad  face,  and  his  brow  showed  a  high  order  of  intellect. 
He  was  of  medium  size,  but  evidently  muscular  and  active.  When 
told  that  he  might  speak  for  himself,  he  placed  his  wounded  arm 
on  the  palm  of  his  left  hand  and  asked,  ''Lodu  Huanaeo  se 
queech?" — May  Huanaeo  talk  now? 

The  president  nodded  his  head,  and  the  prisoner  arose  to  his 
feet;  but  in  spite  of  his  stoicism,  with  manifest  pain.  It  was  seen 
by  all  that  his  arm  was  badly  swollen  and  the  bandages  too 
tight.    Ruth  and  Banna  hastened  to  his  relief. 

Umausauga  and  Notha  Neva  came  near  and  watched  the 
movements  of  their  delicate  fingers  with  almost  breathless  inter- 
est. Such  tenderness  and  skill  were  unknown  to  them.  Though 
far  above  the  ordinary  savages  around  them,  they  knew  nothing 
of  the  glorious  mission  of  a  true  woman — nothing  of  the  soothing, 
healing  touch  of  her  gentle  hand — nothing  of  the  angelic  spirit 
which  warms  her  breast  and  makes  glad  the  beatings  of  a 
wounded  heart. 

"With  eyes  wide  open  and  with  bated  breath  the  natives  watch 
the  nimble  fingers  until  the  last  bandage  is  reached.  It  is  deep 
in  the  flesh  and  tightly  held  there  by  dry  blood  which  has  to  be 
softened  by  an  application  of  warm  water  before  the  cloth  can 

96 


be  removed.  Banna  is  applying  the  water.  The  silent,  stoical 
sufferer  casts  a  long,  anxious  look  at  her,  similar  to  those  given 
while  his  arm  was  being  dressed  at  the  spring.  Suddenly  his 
eyes  close  spasmodically,  his  whole  body  trembles,  and  he 
heavily  falls  to  his  knees,  exclaiming,  "Ouch  Elancydyne ! 
menurik  outic  en  ma  ecindre  at  survi.  Eltrovadyne."  That  is, 
0  Elancydyne,  has  your  spirit  come  back,  or  are  you  the  once 
little  Eltrovadyne? 

The  council  was  amazed.  Umausauga  stood  speechless,  and 
acted  as  if  some  great  secret  of  his  life  was  about  to  be  revealed. 
Banna  realized  that  in  some  way  the  dramatic  scene  referred  to 
herself.  She  nestled  close  to  Ruth,  and  as  usual  their  arms  were 
around  each  other.  The  captive  was  lying  upon  the  floor  seem- 
ingly but  not  really  unconscious.  "While  in  this  condition  the 
dressing  of  his  arm  was  completed.  The  council  sympathized 
with  the  poor  fellow  and  awaited  his  own  action.  He  had  evi- 
dently made  some  overpowering  discovery,  and  all  wanted  to 
know  the  result. 

By  and  by,  when  the  sufferer  began  to  breathe  easily,  some  of 
the  men  raised  hira  to  his  feet,  and  he  was  told  to  go  on  with  his 
talk.  He  essayed  to  do  so,  but  did  not  know  what  to  do  with 
his  wounded  arm  and  paused  to  think.  While  doing  so  Mrs. 
Easley  quickly  untied  her  snow  white  apron,  made  a  loop  that 
fell  from  his  neck  upon  his  breast,  and  tenderly  placed  his 
wounded  arm  in  it.  Though  still  suffering  his  eyes  followed  the 
kind  lady  to  her  seat,  a  faint  smile  played  over  his  features  for 
a  moment  as  if  to  thank  her,  and  turning,  he  made  a  touching 
talk  of  which  the  following  is  a  free  translation: 

"My  friends.  I  find  friends  here.  Great  and  good  friends. 
Friends  for  whom  I  am  ready  to  give  my  life."  Here  he  paused 
and  pointing  his  trembling  forefinger  towards  Ruth,  Banna  and 
Mrs.  Easley,  he  looked  around  and  continued:  "I  believe  there 
are  others.  To  friend  and  foe  alike  I  want  to  say  I  am  a  Chero- 
kee. My  name  is  Iluanaco.  I  am  not  a  spy.  I  come  to  you  on  a 
mission  of  peace,  though  I  made  a  great  mistake.  I  drew  my 
tomahawk  on  the  horses,  not  on  their  riders.  I  thought  I 
might  be  run  over.     Had  I  not  made  this  mistake  I  should  not 

97 


have  been  hurt."  Again  pointing  his  finger  towards  the  girls,  he 
added,  "They  are  too  good  to  willingly  hurt  others. 

"Friends,  many  moons  ago  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  were  at 
war.  We  were  led  by  King  Amercides.  He  was  a  Spanish  noble- 
man. For  some  reason  he  became  one  of  us.  He  died  for  us  on 
the  bloody  field  of  Numerado.  Then  his  queen  took  his  place. 
She  led  us  to  victory.  Her  name  was  Elancydyne.  Though  of 
pure  English  blood  she  was  always  true  to  the  Cherokees.  When 
a  very  little  girl  she  was  washed  on  shore  by  the  waves  of  the 
sea.  We  adopted  her  and  she  too  became  one  of  us.  She  grew 
to  be  so  good  and  beautiful  that  King  Amercides  gladly  made 
her  his  queen.  She  led  us  from  Numerado  to  other  battlefields. 
The  last  was  at  Arharra  near  this  very  place.  There,  when 
passing  under  some  trees  in  whose  branches  bowmen  were  hid- 
den, she  fell  mortally  wounded.  The  spirit  of  the  Cherokees 
was  broken.  We  retreated  beyond  the  Etoho.  We  carried  our 
queen's  dead  body  with  us.  She  and  Ajnercides  sleep  together. 
After  the  battle  we  tried  to  find  her  little  girl.  She  was  the  very 
image  of  her  mother.  We  did  not  find  her.  Her  name  was  Eltro- 
vadyne.  Until  a  short  time  ago  we  fully  believed  her  to  be  dead. 
I  have  been  sent  to  see  if  she  still  lives.  I  think  I  have  found  her. 
We  want  her  for  a  queen.  Friends,"  the  Indian  continued, 
after  a  thoughtful  pause,  "I  was  once  wounded  in  battle.  Queen 
Elancydyne  poured  cold  water  on  a  great  gash  in  my  shoulder. 
Her  beautiful  eyes  looked  on  in  pity.  She,  whom  you  call  Banna 
gave  me  just  such  a  look  with  just  such  eyes  while  pouring  water 
on  my  arm  to-night.  The  discovery  overcame  me.  I  fell  upon 
the  floor.  I  know  that  was  not  in  keeping  with  the  dignity  of  a 
warrior.  But  tell  me,  0  tell  me,  if  you  can,  is  Banna,  the  once 
little  queen  Eltrovadyne?    What  shall  Huanaco  tell  his  people?" 

The  speaker  sat  down,  and  with  impassive  features  fixed  his 
eyes  on  vacant  space  as  when  he  first  entered  the  fort.  Umau- 
sauga  was  as  motionless  as  a  stone  pillar.  He  seemed  utterly 
incapable  of  action,  and  Banna  was  lying  insensible  in  Ruth's 
arms.  Even  the  iron-nerved  Josiah  Strong  was  deeply  moved. 
The  contraction  of  his  brow,  the  compression  of  his  lips,  and  the 
twitching  of  his  great  muscles,  showed  that  some  stern  resolve 

98 


might  soon  be  made  known.  Yet  he  spoke  not  a  word,  nor  was  he 
likely  to  do  so  before  the  climax  of  what  seemed  to  be  coming 
was  reached.  Banna  the  Beautiful,  though  now  believed  to  be 
a  princess  indeed,  was  not  to  be  taken  from  him,  not  even  for  a 
throne.  Her  situation  excited  the  heart-felt  sympathy  of  every 
one  present,  and  the  efforts  of  all  were  concentrated  upon  the 
best  means  to  restore  her  to  consciousness. 

By  and  by,  she  began  to  revive,  principally  through  the  efforts 
of  Mr.  Strong  who,  though  not  a  physician,  had  once  studied  the 
science  of  medicine  with  a  view  to  practice.  The  services  render- 
ed to  his  patient  in  the  wilderness  was  indeed  a  labor  of  love. 

When  all  became  quiet,  Mr.  Moore,  the  presiding  officer  that 
night,  requested  Umausauga  to  answer,  as  well  as  he  could,  the 
Cherokee's  important  question  as  to  what  he  should  tell  his 
people.  Without  moving  a  muscle  in  his  face  or  changing  the 
natural  gleam  of  fire  in  his  eyes,  the  Indian  came  to  the  front 
with  a  slow,  but  steady  step,  and  chiefly  using  the  third  person 
said,  "Umausauga  calls  you  friend,  too.  You  have  been  good  to 
him.  In  turn  he  will  be  good  to  you.  He  is  glad  we  are  friends. 
He  was  once  the  enemy  of  all  white  people  and  of  the  Cherokees 
too.  Was  in  the  battle  of  Arharra.  Was  one  of  the  bowmen  in 
the  tree  tops.  Does  not  know  who  killed  queen  Elancydyne. 
Knows  she  was  very  brave.  That  her  fall  ended  the  battle.  That 
he  could  have  prevented  her  warriors  from  taking  her  body  away. 
Umausauga  would  not  do  that.  He  fights  for  the  living.  Not  for 
the  dead  excepting  one  time." 

Here  the  speaker,  for  a  reason  that  may  be  discovered  as  this 
narrative  progresses,  broke  down  and  stood  speechless.  Banna, 
still  trembling  like  a  stricken  child,  went  and  took  a  seat  at  his 
side.  That  seemed  to  strengthen  him.  He  gently  placed  one 
hand  upon  her  head  and  with  the  other  motioned  for  Ruth  to 
come  also.  She  quickly  went  and  sat  opposite  her  friend. 
Placing  his  free  hand  on  her  head,  he,  this  time  with  a  trembling 
voice,  continued:  "May  the  God  of  the  white  men  and  the  Great 
Spirit  of  the  red  man  bless  you  both,  and  keep  you  together 
always.     Curses  on  the  hand  that  would  violently  separate  you. 

99 


"Umausauga  has  committed  no  crime.  After  the  retreat  of  the 
Cherokees  from  Arharrah  he  was  walking  over  the  battle  ground. 
He  heard  a  child  crying  in  the  distant  woods.  He  could  not  have 
found  the  little  creature  if  it  had  not  been  crying.  It  was  con- 
cealed by  earth,  rocks  and  bushes.  A  dead  woman  was  lying 
near.  An  arrow  w-as  sticking  deep  in  her  breast.  The  shaft 
was  broken.  She  still  held  the  broken  part  in  her  hand.  She  had 
tried  to  pull  it  from  her  breast.    When  it  broke  she  died. 

"Umausauga  took  the  crying  baby  in  his  arms.  It  soon  be- 
came quiet.  He  placed  it  by  the  side  of  what  he  then  thought 
was  its  dead  mother.  Their  features  were  not  at  all  alike,  he 
thought  again.  He  found  that  the  features  of  the  child  were 
just  the  same  as  the  features  of  the  heroic  woman  who  rode  the 
white  horse.  He  then  believed  her  to  be  the  child's  mother,  and 
that  the  dead  woman  w^as  its  nurse.  He  has  since  learned  this 
to  be  true. 

"Umausauga  had  no  heart  to  leave  the  little  girl  to  die  alone  in 
the  woods.  He  carried  her  to  his  wigwam.  He  named  her 
Banna.  That  word  means  princess.  You  all  know  how  true  she 
is  to  her  name.  Now  you  all  know  how  well  she  deserves  the 
title.  As  she  grew  older,  he  found  her  very  good  and  very  smart. 
He  never  knew  her  to  do  wrong  wilfully.  He  never  knew  her  to 
fail  in  her  work.  He  never  twice  told  her  to  do  anything.  She 
has  always  been  good  to  him.  He  has  always  tried  to  be  good 
to  her.  Umausauga  has  often  thought  of  the  grand  appear- 
ance made  by  the  Cherokee  queen  on  her  white  horse.  He  want- 
ed Banna  to  have  one  like  it.  He  went  all  the  way  to  the  ocean 
before  he  found  one  to  suit  him.  He  finally  found  Iro  and  pur- 
chased him.  He  hunted  two  winters  and  one  summer  to  get 
skins  enough  to  pay  for  horse  and  bridle.  Old  Lapsidali  had 
found  a  saddle  in  the  woods  around  Arharra.  She  did  not  know 
what  it  was.  Umausauga  gave  her  a  handful  of  beads  for  it — 
some  of  the  beads  he  received  in  payment  for  Beadland.  So 
Banna  now  had  a  horse,  bridle  and  saddle.  The  horse  is  very 
much  like  the  one  ridden  by  her  mother.  Doubtless  the  saddle 
was  hers  also. 

100 


"Umaiisauga  was  so  proud  that  he  turned  fool  enough  to  tell 
his  great  secret  to  old  Lapsidali.  Until  now  he  has  never  told 
any  one  else.  He  and  Banna  began  to  train  Iro  at  once.  She 
often  went  dashing  through  the  woods  on  his  back.  He  now  sees 
how  much  she  looked  like  queen  Elancydyne  charging  among  the 
trees  at  Arharra." 

Here  the  Indian  again  broke  down  as  if  lost  in  painful  thought. 
At  last  he  went  on:  ''Brothers,  sisters!  this  trial  is  too  much  for 
Umausauga.  He  here  confesses  for  himself  what  you  already 
know,  that  Banna  is  not  his  daughter!  It  is  worse  than  death 
to  be  separated  from  her.  And  he  here  sounds  a  warning  note 
that  unless  the  separation  be  for  some  good  reason  and  by  her 
consent,  somebody  must  be  thrown  alive  into  the  boiling,  burn- 
ing flames  at  Nodoroc." 

Again  the  speaker  stood  silent  for  a  few  minutes.  His  eyes 
flashed,  his  muscles  twitched,  and  giving  a  deep  guttural  groan, 
he  suddenly  turned  to  Huanaco,  and  in  thunder  tones  exclaimed 
in  Cherokee:  "Hoar,  Huanaco!  Having  found  your  lost  prin- 
cess, what  will  you  do?    Speak!  Huanaco,  speak!" 

Having  uttered  the  last  sentence  with  terrible  emphasis,  the 
speaker  sat  down.  The  Cherokee  was  confused ;  but  showed 
himself  a  good  diplomatist.  After  some  hesitation  he  said,  "Since 
the  fall  of  queen  Elancydj^ne  the  Cherokees  have  been  under  a 
chief  chosen  by  themselves.  He  is  a  good  man  and  the  people 
like  him.  But  he  wants  to  retire  from  public  life.  All  were 
devoted  to  Amercides  and  his  queen.  We  want  their  daughter, 
our  Eltrovadyne  and  your  Banna  to  be  queen  of  all  the  Chero- 
kees. It  is  her  birthright.  It  is  our  pleasure.  Of  course  her 
consent  must  be  first  obtained.  No  force  can  be  used  in  this 
matter. 

"Brothers,  I  hope  you  have  learned  that  I  am  not  an  enemy  as 
you  first  thought.  Lapsidali  is  the  one  who  told  us  that  our 
lost  queen  is  here.  AVe  doubted  her  word.  I  have  come  and  find 
that  for  once  she  told  the  truth.  But  she  told  it  to  make  trouble 
between  us.  You  have  heard  that  the  Cherokees  are  preparing 
to  invade  this  part  of  the  country  again.  That  is  absolutely 
false.     The  old  squaw  made  the  tale  out  of  my  appointment  to 

101 


come  here  for  a  harmless  purpose.     She  colors  truth  to  suit  her- 
self as  she  does  her  baskets. 

** Brothers  and  sisters,  we  scarcely  dared  hope  to  find  our  lost 
Eltrovadyne.  Less  did  we  expect  to  find  her  already  a  queen 
among  subjects  of  her  own  race.  And  this  complicates  the  mat- 
ter. Allow  me  to  return  home  and  report  to  my  people,  I  see 
your  Banna  is  deeply  grieved  even  at  the  thought  of  leaving  you. 
I  am  willing  to  leave  the  matter  to  you  and  to  her.  I  can  not 
answer  for  the  Cherokees  until  I  see  them.  They  may  be  able  to 
offer  some  inducement  that  will  cause  you  all  to  change  your 
minds.     Huanaco  is  done." 

The  scene  that  followed  beggars  description.  Lost  in  astonish- 
ment at  the  strange  incidents  revealed,  and  rejoicing  over  the 
news  that  the  Cherokee  invasion  was  probably  a  myth,  the 
Talasee  council  was  hardly  fitted  for  regular  business.  However 
after  various  private  conferences  it  was  found  that  all  were 
practically  of  the  same  opinion  and  the  following  resolutions 
were  passed : 

"1st:  That  thanks  of  the  Talasee  council  and  its  friends  are 
hereby  tendered  Huanaco  who  claims  to  be  a  Cherokee  on  a 
peaceful  mission  to  the  Creeks,  for  his  pacific  talk  to-night,  and 
we  assure  him  of  our  friendship  on  all  proper  occasions. 

"2nd:  That  while  we  thank  the  Cherokees  for  proposing  to 
make  one  of  our  members  their  reigning  queen,  we,  by  her  full 
consent,  most  respectfully  decline  to  accept  the  honor  offered. 

"3rd:  That  the  guard  is  hereby  instructed  to  release  the  said 
Huanaco  from  custody,  and  allow  him  to  return  to  his  people  at 
such  time  as  suits  him. 

"4th:  That  we  thank  our  scouts  for  the  faithful  and  efficient 
manner  in  which  they  performed  their  duty  by  arresting  and 
bringing  to  headquarters  a  supposed  spy. 

"5th:  That  we  regret  the  said  Huanaco 's  mistake  which  led 
our  scouts  to  wound  him,  but  attach  no  blame  to  them.  On  the 
contrary  they  showed  the  highest  order  of  skill  and  bravery  as 
well  as  sound  judgment  in  their  actions. 

102 


"6th:  That  while  we  gladly  receive  the  news  that  the  rumor 
of  a  Cherokee  invasion  is  false,  we  will  not  for  one  moment  relax 
our  viligence  to  protect  this  colony  and  its  friends. 

"7th:  That  we  think  the  thanks  of  the  whole  civilized  world 
is  due  our  friend  Umausauga,  for  the  kind  manner  in  which  he 
took  care  of  the  little  child  that  he  found  in  the  woods,  and  for 
his  faithfulness  to  her  from  that  time  to  the  present  moment. 
And  we  further  believe  that  as  the  anointing  of  our  Savior's  feet 
at  Bethany  has  become  a  universal  memorial  of  the  woman  who 
performed  the  gracious  deed,  that  also  the  kindness  shown  by 
an  untaught  savage  of  the  wilderness  to  a  stranger,  should  be  told 
for  a  memorial  of  him  to  all  men. 

"8th:  That  because  of  the  unfaithfulness  of  Lapsidali,  the 
basket  maker,  as  shown  by  the  betrayal  of  Umausauga.'s  confi- 
dence, and  by  the  circulation  of  false  reports  in  regard  to  a 
Cherokee  invasion,  she  is  hereby  declared  to  be  a  traitor  of  this 
Colony,  to  Umausauga  and  his  people. 

"Signed, 

"Abednego  Moore,  Pres. 

"Orpah  Lahgoon,  Sec." 

Much  apprehension  of  coming  danger  had  been  removed,  and 
a  free  conversation  followed.  Still  Banna's  face  was  sad.  She 
seemed  to  be  whirling  in  a  circle  of  unknown  circumference. 
She  was  arrayed  in  her  wonderful  red  dress  over  which  her  now 
constantly  wavy  hair  hung  in  graceful  tresses  to  her  waist.  Un- 
der the  tutilage  of  Ruth  and  others,  her  manners,  never  coarse, 
had  become  graceful  and  easy.  At  her  own  request  she  was  car- 
ried to  Huanaco  who  manifested  some  courtliness  and  much  em- 
barrassment. The  following  is  a  free  translation,  in  a  condensed 
form,  of  the  conversation  between  them : 

"Huanaco,  I  am  Banna  whose  name  you  say  in  Eltrovadyne.  I 
must  first  tell  you  that  if  we  had  known  you  were  not  a  spy,  we 
would  not  have  hurt  you  for  all  the  world.  We  ask  you  to  for- 
give us." 

"Eltrovadyne,  you  and  your  friend  are  forgotten.  Huanaco  has 
a  heart." 


"We    thank    you.      Now    please    tell    us    what    Eltrovadyne 
means?" 

"Glittering  Star.    Huanaeo  thinks  you  are  one  of  them,"  re- 
plied the  Indian  as  he  pointed  towards  the  stars. 

"0  Huanaeo,  my  friends  here  tell  me  of  a  home  beyond  the 
stars,  where  all  the  truly  good  shall  live  forever  in  a  home  not 
made  by  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens!  I  have  learned  to  take 
a  few  steps  in  that  direction.  If  for  no  other  reason  I  should  not 
want  to  leave  my  teachers.  They  can  show  me  how  to  travel  the 
pathAvay  which  leads  to  life  eternal,  where  there  is  fullness  of 
joy  and  pleasures  evermore !  They  tell  me  of  a  Savior  who  came 
from  beyond  the  stars— from  a  place  they  call  Heaven,  to  seek 
and  to  save  that  which  Avas  lost !  I  want  him  to  find  Eltrovadyne. 
If  I  go  to  the  Cherokees  no  one  will  point  me  out  to  him !  My 
friends  here  do  that.  They  call  it  prayer.  They  talk  to  the 
Savior  in  prayer.  They  sometimes  call  him  Jesus  and  talk  to  him 
every  day.  They  read  or  talk  about  him  in  a  book  they  call  the 
Bible.  It  is  curious  to  think  that  a  book  can  talk  to  you.  I  am 
beginning  to  learn  how  it  is  done.  I  already  know  the  words 
They  call  them  letters  like  a,  b,  c.  I  can  put  a  few  of  them  to- 
gether now  and  make  long  words — words  like  we  use  when  talk- 
ing. Then  too,  I  am  beginning  to  learn  how  to  talk  on  paper, 
or  on  anything  that  will  hold  a  mark.  They  call  it  writing.  I 
can  write  my  name  now.  I  say  B-a-n-n-a.  I  can  not  write 
Eltrovadyne.  It  contains  too  many  words  or  letters.  But  now 
that  I  can  speak  the  word  I  can  soon  learn  how  to  make  the 
letters  talk  it.  They  call  that  spelling.  This  is  curious  and  I 
long  to  know  more  about  it.  Then,  0  Iluanaco,  the  Cherokees 
must  not  want  to  take  me  away!" 

In  mute  astonishment  the  Indian  gazed  upon  her  radiant  face 
until  he  almost  ceased  to  breathe.  After  a  little  while  he  turned 
his  eyes  away,  and,  as  if  talking  to  himself,  muttered  in  a  deep 
undertone,  "It  is  right  for  Eltrovadyne  to  remain  here!  I  wish 
Huanaeo  had  never  seen  her!  There  is  a  dark-eyed  maiden  at 
Stonethrow  who  had  all  my  heart.  Glittering  Star  takes  it  away 
from  her!    Hush!    Hush!    Huanaeo!     Glittering  Star  is  a  pale- 

104 


face!    That  ends  all!    To-morrow  Huanaco  goes  to  Stonethrow! 
Back  to  his  dark-eyed  Thespe!" 

"Talk  to  Eltrovadyne,"  said  Banna,  wishing  to  turn  the  cur- 
rent of  the  Indian's  thoughts.  ''Please  tell  me  what  Elancydyne 
means?"  "Shooting  Star,"  answered  the  Cherokee  slowly,  and 
again  pointing  upward,  continued,  "When  Elancydyne  was  a 
little  girl  a  Cherokee  brave  took  her  from  a  sinking  ship  in  time 
of  a  storm,  and  the  waves  brought  them  both  to  shore.  Later  she 
ran  about  from  one  camp-fire  to  another  so  fast,  and  was  so  very, 
very  bright  and  beautiful,  that  she  was  called  Elancydyne  or 
Shooting  Star.  Our  old  men  said  her  clothes  showed  that  she  was 
the  child  of  an  English  nobleman.  She  was  very  white  with 
features  just  like  yours.  0  her  eyes !  0  your  eyes,  Eltrovadyne ! 
How  can  I  leave;  but  hush,  Huanaco!    Thespe  still  speaks!" 

"May  Eltrovadyne  ask  a  few  more  questions?"  The  Indian 
nodded  his  head,  and  sat  with  eyes  cast  down  as  if  to  avoid  the 
heart-breaking  battery  that  was  turned  upon  him,  "What  does 
Amercides  mean?"  asked  the  girl  tremulously.  "Don't  know," 
was  the  thoughtful  reply.  "When  your  father  first  came  among 
the  Cherokees  he  was  known  as  Don  Mar  de  Vedo,  of  the  royal 
family  of  Spain.  Huanaco  don't  remember  all  about  it.  He 
was  then  young.  Something  like  CID  was  connected  with  his 
name.  When  he  was  made  king  his  subjects  were  required  to 
call  him  Amercides.    So  Cid  was  still  a  part  of  his  name." 

"Has  Eltrovadyne  any  brothers  and  sisters  among  the  Chero- 
kees?" asked  Banna  anxiously.  The  Indian  shook  his  head  only, 
and  the  girl  ventured  to  ask  him  one  more  question:  "Do  yon 
know  where  my  father  and  mother  are  buried,  and  if  so  will 
you  show  me  the  place  sometime?"  "Huanaco  knows.  He  will 
show  you, ' '  was  the  thoughtful  reply. 

The  troubled  girl  covered  her  face  with  her  hands,  and  weep- 
ing bitterly,  she  and  Ruth  Lahgoon  bade  the  Cherokee  farew^ell 
and    disappeared. 


105 


CHAPTER  VI. 
A  Number  of  New  Emigrants  Arrive. 

On  the  morning  following  the  memorable  meeting  of  the 
Talasee  council  in  which  Banna  unexpectedly  learned  much  of 
her  early  history,  her  saddle  was  identified  by  Huanaco  as  the 
same  on  which  queen  Elancydyne  rode  over  the  battlefields  of 
Numerado,  Rodoata  and  Arharra.  He  said  he  distinctly  re- 
membered it  as  a  gift  from  Amercides  to  his  queen,  and  that  the 
first  journey  made  upon  it  was  her  ride  from  Shaultamoozaw 
(Black  Creek  church)  to  Yamtramahoochee  (Hurricane  Shoals) 
just  before  the  battle  of  Numerado.  Thus  the  parentage  of  the 
bright  girl  long  known  as  Umausauga's  daughter  was  established 
to  the  satisfaction  of  herself  and  her  friends ;  and  the  declaration 
of  Mrs.  Moore  that  she  did  not  have  a  drop  of  Indian  blood  in  her 
was  fully  verified.  Consequently  her  name  was  at  once  enrolled 
upon  the  records  of  Talasee  council  as  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo,  the 
first  name  being  retained  because  of  its  well-known  significance. 

By  request  Notha  Neva  accompanied  Huanaco  to  Stonethrow, 
with  secret  instructions  to  learn  all  he  could  as  to  the  intentions 
of  the  Cherokees  and  report  accordingly.  Though  quite  a  num- 
ber of  new  emigrants  was  constantly  expected,  the  people  did 
not  want  any  further  trouble,  and  therefore  were  anxious  to 
know^  what  effect  Huanaco 's  report  would  have  upon  the  au- 
thorities who  sent  him  to  hunt  their  lost  queen.  In  due  time  the 
messenger  returned  and  to  the  great  relief  of  all  the  colonists 
made,  in  substance,  the  following  report : 

"Brothers,  a  big  company  of  Cherokee  warriors  was  at  Stone- 
throw.  Huanaco  made  them  a  talk.  Told  them  that  he  had  found 
their  lost  queen.  That  she  was  just  like  her  mother.  That  she 
was  as  bright  as  the  stars.  That  her  dress  hurt  his  eyes  like  the 
sun.  Could  talk  English.  Had  quit  all  Indian  life.  Was  living 
in  a  big  fort  with  a  colony  of  pale-faces.  That  she  is  wholly  de- 
voted to  them.  That  they  are  wholly  devoted  to  her.  That  the 
only  way  to  get  her  was  by  force.     He  thought  the  safest  way 

106 


was  to  let  Eltrovadyne  stay  with  the  pale-faces.  They  call  her 
Banna.  That  means  princess.  She  is  a  princess  among  them  as 
well  as  among  us. 

"Brothers,  the  Cherokees  send  you  word  that  you  may  keep 
their  lost  queen  in  peace.  That  it  is  not  their  intention  to  engage 
in  another  war.  That  the  old  squaw  Lapsidali  told  lies.  That 
they  intended  to  punish  her  for  causing  so  much  trouble. 

"Brother,  outside  of  council  Notha  Neva  learned  other  things. 
The  Cherokees  are  afraid  of  the  men  and  guns  inside  your  big 
fort.  Huanaco  told  about  them.  They  are  afraid  to  have  Eltro- 
vadyne a  queen,  now.  They  think  she  would  fight  more  for 
Creek  than  for  Cherokee.    Notha  Neva  is  done." 

The  messenger  received  the  hearty  thanks  of  the  colonists 
for  services  rendered,  and  with  many  presents  which  he  valued 
very  highly,  he  returned  to  his  wigwam  somewhere  on  the  lower 
waters  of  Pocataligo  (Sandy)  creek.  Since  the  rumors  of  a 
Cherokee  invasion  had  reached  the  Creek  Nation  five  bands  or 
camps  of  their  warriors  under  as  many  sub-chiefs  had  been 
stationed  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  ready  on  short  notice, 
to  be  massed  under  the  famous  Talitchlechee,  who  lived  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  town  of  Dacula  in  Gwinnett  County.  That 
old  hero  being  informed  by  the  colonists  that  the  war  cloud  had 
passed  away,  at  once  ordered  four  of  the  camps  to  disband ;  but 
to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  action  in  case  of  necessity. 
The  fifth  camp,  consisting  of  about  thirty  men,  under  the  sullen 
sub-chief,  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco,  was  located  at  Bohuron,  now 
known  as  Oconee  Heights  in  Clarke  County.  The  leader  of  the 
Bohurons,  as  his  followers  were  called,  asked  and  received  per- 
mission to  remain  in  camp  until  it  was  known  by  better  evidence 
than  any  white  man  could  give  that  all  danger  was  over.  This 
slur  together  with  the  fact  that  none  of  the  camps  had  been  es- 
tablished near  Fort  Strong,  nor  on  any  part  of  Umausauga's 
claim,  and  also  the  emphasis  placed  upon  the  last  part  of 
Talitchlechee 's  order  disbanding  the  four  camps,  gave  the  colo- 
nists the  first  hint  that  there  was  an  element  of  hostility  among 
some  of  the  natives  around  them.  Though  they  said  nothing  they 
"trusted  in  God  and  kept  their  powder  dry." 

107 


Umausaiiga  was  a  strong,  brave  man.  He  knew  by  instinct 
that  "coming  events  cast  their  shadows  before  them."  He  seems 
to  have  had  a  bad  opinion  of  the  leader  of  the  Bohurons  from 
the  beginning.  He  knew  that  the  chief  had  been  spurned  as  a 
viper  by  his  darling  Banna,  and  that  it  was  natural  for  one  of 
his  race  to  seek  revenge.  Really  he  more  than  half  believed  that 
the  negigole  (renegade)  remained  in  the  country  for  that  pur- 
pose. 

For  Umausauga  to  think  was  to  do.  As  soon  as  the  camp  was 
established  under  the  long-named  chief,  he  induced  Tata,  his 
nephew  at  Snodon,  to  change  his  name  to  Nyxter,  and  join  the 
Bohurons  as  a  spy.  Though  not  fully  grown  Tata  was  a  strong, 
sharp  young  fellow,  and  little  known  outside  of  his  secluded  home 
circle.  He  was  known  to  be  fearless,  faithful  and  true  to  his 
friends.  His  skill  with  the  bow  was  unerring  and  his  fleetness 
on  foot  was  superior  to  that  of  the  red  deer. 

A  few  days  after  the  four  camps  disbanded  it  was  reported 
that  the  Bohurons  had  gone  south  to  join  the  Lower  Creeks  to 
which  their  leader  really  belonged.  Hence  Umausauga.'s  term  of 
derision,  negigole.  Had  he  known  a  stronger  term  he  certainly 
would  have  used  it.  Though  often  asked  to  live  at  the  fort,  he 
continued  to  stay  in  his  wigwam  at  night  and  to  roam  the  woods 
by  day.  He  knew  nothing  of  the  sensation  of  fear,  though,  to 
use  his  own  expression,  he  "walked  with  his  eyes  looking  and 
slept  with  his  ears  hearing." 

As  if  to  prove  this  saying,  he  one  night  heard  the  preconcerted 
signal  of  Nyxter,  the  spy.  They  met  at  the  appointed  place  wher^ 
some  startling  revelations  were  made.  The  boy  informed  his 
uncle  that  the  southward  movement  of  the  Bohurons  was  only  a 
ruse;  that  half  of  the  company  was  still  in  camp  and  would  re- 
main there  as  a  blind.  That  the  other  half  which  had  gone  south 
would  return  in  a  short  time  and  watch  the  woods  by  day  and 
the  fort  by  night  for  an  opportunity  to  capture  both  Banna  and 
Ruth  Lahgoon  and  carry  them  away  to  the  Lower  Creeks;  that 
AYokolog  was  a  leading  Bohuron  and  wanted  revenge  for  the 
way  Ruth  received  his  advances  at  Calamit ;  that  Yrtyrmyrmyr- 
mysco  was  still  determined  to  make  Banna  his  wife,  and  that  he 

108 


had  sworn  vengeance  against  Josiah  Strong  as  the  only  cause  of 
his  rejection. 

"I  am  on  fire  all  over,  and  will  see  about  that  matter  before 
the  moon  shines  on  my  tracks,"  said  the  furious  Indian  as  he 
hastened  away  to  Fort  Strong.  Quickly  reaching  there  he  told 
the  startling  news,  and  Mr.  Easley  who  was  president  of  the  coun- 
cil at  that  time,  quietly  asked:  "What  is  the  best  thing  for  us 
to  do?"  "I  want  two  arrows  unlike  any  ever  used  in  this  part 
of  the  country.  Will  you  help  me  make  them  ? ' '  was  the  equally 
quiet  reply.  "I  think  you  need  not  make  any.  I  have  a  small 
bundle  of  those  that  were  used  in  King  Phillip's  war,"  said  Joe 
Starr,  as  he  went  to  get  them.  "These,"  he  continued  upon  his 
return,  "were  given  to  me  by  my  father.  They  are  called  King 
Phillip  arrows,  and  I  value  them  very  highly.  Still  you  are  wel- 
come to  two  or  three  if  they  suit  you." 

Umausauga  took  the  bvmdle  eagerly  and  critically  examined  the 
arrows  one  by  one.  The  shafts  were  unusually  long  and  made  of 
a  tough,  fine-grained  wood  unknown  to  the  Creek  or  to  any  of  the 
colonists.  The  tips  or  heads  were  made  of  a  very  dark  flint,  and 
tapered  to  a  long,  keen  point.  The  Indian's  eyes  sparkled  with 
delight  as  he  selected  two  and  returned  the  others. 

"Now,"  he  said  as  he  arose  to  go,  "hide  the  others  where  they 
can  not  be  seen  by  prying  eyes,"  and  thanking  Joe  for  the  favor, 
he  disappeared  in  the  reigning  darkness. 

The  following  day  and  night  were  uneventful,  but  during  the 
evening  of  the  second  day  seven  or  eight  Bohurons  were  seen  to 
enter  the  dense  woods  to  the  south  of  Alotha,  and  were  supposed 
to  be  heading  for  the  deep  ravine  which  still  distinguishes  that 
locality.  This  proximity  to  the  fort  Avas  rather  ominous;  but  to  be 
forewarned  was  to  be  forearmed,  and  everything  was  in  order 
there.  For  the  first  time  Umausauga  and  his  brother,  Etohautee 
of  Snodon,  remained  at  the  fort  all  that  night.  About  break  of 
day  the  latter,  who  was  patrolling  the  immediate  vicinity  with  the 
stealthiness  of  a  mousing  cat,  saw  the  enemy  cross  the  river  and 
go  in  the  direction  of  the  Okoloco  Trail.  A  few  hours  later  the 
white  men,  leaving  the  Indian  brothers  as  a  guard,  left  the  fort  on 
a  tour  of  observation.    When  the  little  company  reached  the  trail 

109 


the  fresh  tracks  of  fast  runners  going  east  were  soon  discovered. 
Presently  another  runner  was  seen  coming  at  full  speed ;  but  as 
soon  as  he  saw  the  white  men  he  dashed  into  the  woods.  It  was 
the  work  of  a  few  minutes  only  for  Mr.  Lahgoon,  who  was  mount- 
ed on  Alborak,  to  overtake  him.  When  brought  back  he  refused 
to  speak,  but  soon  found  it  was  easier  to  talk  than  to  die.  He 
said  his  chief  had  been  killed  and  his  men  were  scattered  in 
every  direction ;  that  Wokolog,  the  next  in  command,  was  very 
sick  and  that  he  had  been  carried  to  the  low  country  to  be  treat- 
ed by  a  famous  doctor  down  there. 

The  captive  then  led  the  way  to  his  fallen  chief  who  was  found 
lying  near  Calamit  with  an  arrow  buried  deep  in  his  head.  It 
was  a  King  Phillip  arrow,  in  all  probability  the  first  of  its  kind 
that  ever  cleared  the  air  in  that  part  of  the  country.  And  yet  the 
white  men  knew  that  Umausauga  had  not  sent  it  on  its  deathly 
mission.  When  they  approached  the  dead  leader  three  men  were 
sitting  near,  apparently  expecting  the  arrival  of  others.  Not  one 
of  the  natives  spoke  a  word  nor  moved  a  muscle.  When  asked  if 
they  needed  help  one  of  the  sullen  warriors  shook  his  head  and 
pointed  down  the  trail,  as  much  as  to  say  that  help  was  expected 
from  that  direction. 

A  few  days  after  the  death  of  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco,  two  old  men 
visited  Adabor.  They  carried  with  them  the  spearless  shaft  of 
the  King  Phillip  arrow.  Having  entered  the  head  a  little  in  front 
of  the  right  ear,  it  had  been  sped  with  such  force  that  when 
pulled  away  the  spear  remained  in  the  bones  of  the  skull.  The 
object  of  the  visit  was  to  know  if  Umausauga  had  ever  seen  such 
an  arrow  used  by  either  Upper  Creek  or  Cherokee.  He  had  never 
seen  one  used,  and  promptly  answered  in  the  negative;  but  sug- 
gested that  such  deadly  missiles  might  be  used  by  Lower  Creeks 
who  live  on  the  coast. 

"That,"  said  one  of  the  old  men,  "may  be  true. 
Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco  has  enemies  there.  Some  of  them  have  fol- 
lowed him  and  sent  this  arrow  almost  through  his  head.  What 
a  true  bowman  the  fellow  is!"  "Yes,"  said  Umausauga  to  him- 
self after  the  old  men  went  away,  "that  fellow  happened  to  be 
Tata  Nyxter,  as  true  a  bowman  as  ever  let  an  arrow  fly !    It  is  a 

110 


pity  that  he  can  not  use  the  other  now.    But  look  out,  Wokolog! 
It's  not  too  late  yet!" 

Following  the  death  of  the  leader  of  the  Bohiirons  and  the  dis- 
appearance of  his  lieutenant,  the  Talasee  colony  slept  soundly 
once  more.  Various  improvements  were  inaugurated  and  rapidly 
carried  to  completion.  Among  these  was  a  grist  mill,  the  second 
of  its  kind  built  within  the  present  limits  of  the  county.  It  was 
known  as  the  Richard  Easley  mill,  and  though  the  runners  were 
of  native  granite,  they  ground  good  corn  meal  of  which  the  only 
bread  known  to  the  country  for  several  years  was  made  in 
various  ways,  chiefly  in  "oven  pones,"  johnny  and  ash  cakes. 

About  this  time  the  long  expected  company  of  emigrants  ar- 
rived. They  were  led  by  William  Clark,  a  man  of  great  energy, 
and  characterized  by  those  who  knew  him  as  "brim  full  of  com- 
mon sense  and  running  over  with  human  kindness."  The  com- 
pany consisted  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven  men,  women  and 
children.  Thirty-nine  remained  at  Talasee,  twenty-seven  went 
to  Beadland,  and  the  others  to  various  points  now  in  Walton  and 
Gwinnett  Counties. 

Of  the  number  that  remained  at  Talasee  there  were  twenty-one 
able  bodied  men  as  follows:  William  Clark,  Herman  Scupeen, 
James  Tinsley,  John  McElroy,  Robert  Linton,  John  Clack,  Ezra 
Lavender,  Ezekiel  Damron,  Thomas  Jett,  James  Varnum,  Alton 
McElhannon,  Alonzo  Draper,  Elkiu  Kinney,  Ludwell  Nichols, 
Homer  Jackson,  Alexander  Bell,  Oliver  Betts,  Thomas  Mitchell, 
Joseph  Cook,  Russell  Anglin  and  George  Singleton.  A  majority 
of  these  were  young  men,  all  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  to  use  the 
words  of  one  of  their  number,  "increased  the  colony  to  twenty- 
eight  hard-working,  hard-fighting,  rough  and  tumble  fellows." 
Every  man  and  every  woman  as  well  as  all  of  the  oldest  children, 
knew  exactly  how  to  use  the  deadly  rifle. 

Nine  only  of  the  late  emigrants  had  families.  All  the  children 
were  small  except  two,  Helen  Draper,  the  sixteen-year-old  daugh- 
ter of  Alonzo  and  Orpah  Draper,  and  Ocean  Scupeen,  the  half- 
grown  son  of  Herman  and  Annette  Scupeen,  and  so  named  be- 
cause he  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  ocean. 

Ill 


James  Tinsley  was  a  Methodist  preacher  of  the  John  Wes- 
ley type,  and  a  man  of  letters.  William  Clark  was  a  lawyer  from 
Wolf  Island,  near  New  Iverness  in  Liberty  County,  now  Darien  in 
Mcintosh  County.  He  was  the  man  for  whom  Clarksboro  the 
first  county  site  of  Jackson  County  was  named,  and  not  as  some 
have  said,  for  either  Gen.  Elijah  Clarke,  or  his  son.  Governor  John 
Clarke.  George  Singleton  was  a  physician,  and  ancestor  of  Dr. 
A.  L.  Singleton  of  "the  duello"  memory.  Thomas  Jett  was  a 
carpenter  and  built  the  first  jail  at  Jefferson.  Thomas  Mitchell 
was  a  teacher,  and  taught  the  first  general  school  established  by 
the  colony  in  a  small  annex  to  Fort  Strong.  Ludwell  Nichols 
was  a  blacksmith  and  some  of  his  work  remains  in  the  country 
to  this  day. 

The  colony  now  felt  sufficiently  strong  to  separate  into  several 
different  but  contiguous  communities.  Clark,  McElroy,  Linton, 
Clack  and  Lavender  settled  less  than  a  mile  north  of  Fort  Strong 
near  the  place  which  afterwards  became  Clarksboro;  Damron, 
Varnum  and  Kinney  went  to  Rodoata  near  Cold  Spring ;  Bell  and 
Betts  settled  at  Alotha,  and,  at  the  earnest  request  of  the  Indian 
brothers,  Umausauga  and  Etohautee,  Draper,  Jackson  and  Scu- 
peen  followed  their  friends  to  Beadland  and  settled  at  Snodon, 
leaving  all  the  professional  men,  except  Clark,  at  Fort  Strong. 
The  going  of  Draper,  Jackson  and  Scupeen  to  Snodon  was  op- 
posed at  the  fort;  but  it  was  a  division  of  power  seen  only  by 
the  sagacious  Indian  brothers,  which  proved  to  be  of  great  value 
to  the  whites  throughout  the  country. 

Notwithstanding  the  occasional  mutterings  of  the  natives,  an 
era  of  prosperity  now  began  in  the  colony  which  showed  them 
plainly  that  the  pale-faces  had  come  to  stay. 

While  this  state  of  affairs  was  pleasing  to  the  whites  it  was 
aggravating  to  the  reds,  especially  when  they  learned  of  some 
things  which  the  late  emigrants  had  brought  with  them;  all  of 
prime  necessity  to  pioneer  life.  Among  them  were  an  ample 
supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  horses,  cattle,  hogs  and  sheep. 
Among  the  cattle  was  a  yoke  of  oxen — great  animals  with  wide- 
spreading  horns  that  beat  against  each  other  with  ominous 
knocks  as  they  walked  side  by  side.    From  these  the  natives  fled 

112 


in  consternation;  crying  out  as  they  ran,  "Nodoroc!  Nodoroc! 
go  back  to  Nodoroc!"  Perhaps  these  oxen,  the  horses,  and  the 
shining  array  of  rifle  guns,  greatly  hastened  native  hostility;  for 
although  the  colonists  did  not  know  it  at  the  time,  it  was  after- 
wards found  that  the  teaching  of  the  Indian  leaders  was,  in  sub- 
stance, "We  must  crush  the  pale-face  before  he  becomes  still 
stronger." 

Of  the  horses  last  brought  to  the  colony,  the  names  of  three  are 
mentioned  here :  Hector,  a  fine  animal  belonging  to  Josiah 
Strong;  Dart,  owned  by  the  boy,  Ocean  Scupeen;  and  Scat,  the 
high-strung  steed  that  went  and  came  at  the  bidding  of  the 
equally  high-strung  girl.  Miss  Helen  Draper ! 

During  the  period  of  quietude  that  followed  the  bursting  of  the 
Cherokee  bubble,  much  of  Mr.  Strong's  time  was  devoted  to 
teaching  a  school  composed  of  two  pupils.  Though  so  small,  it 
was  the  first  school  taught  in  the  country,  even  antedating  that 
at  Yamacutah.  The  curriculum  was  limited,  but  the  work  ex- 
ceedingly pleasant  to  the  master.  He  was  teaching  English  to 
Banna  Mar  de  Vedo,  and  Creek  to  Ruth  Lahgoon.  They  were 
ready  learners,  and  with  their  previous  knowledge  of  these  lan- 
guages advanced  rapidly.  By  and  by,  becoming  weary  of  close  con- 
finement, a  visit  to  Beadland  was  planned  for  an  early  day.  The 
girls  wanted  to  visit  Helen  Draper  who,  much  to  their  regret,  had 
recently  left  them. 

Helen 's  features  were  not  really  beautiful  like  theirs ;  but  in 
form  and  movement  she  was  the  peer  of  the  most  elegant,  and 
her  hair  and  her  eyes  were  very  pretty  indeed,  the  former  long 
and  golden  in  color,  the  latter  deep  blue  and  laughing.  Her 
manners  were  so  free  and  easy  and  her  voice  so  sweetly  musical 
that  without  any  effort  on  her  part  all  loved  and  courted  her 
society.  Like  them  she  was  very  bright;  but  unlike  them  she 
was  somewhat  given  to  fun  and  frolic.  Like  them  she  was  brave 
to  a  fault;  but  unlike  them  she  was  not  sufficiently  cautious.  Like 
them  she  was  an  accomplished  horseback  rider;  but  unlike  them 
she  was  yet  deficient  in  the  ready  use  of  the  rifle  while  in  the 
saddle. 

113 


For  either  man  or  woman  to  be  "a  dead  shot  at  the  bat  of  an 
eye"  was  regarded  as  the  greatest  accomplishment  of  the  times. 
Such'  proficiency  was  by  no  means  uncommon  in  those  days,  and 
under  the  training  of  her  friends  Helen  Draper  soon  became 
equal  to  the  best. 

When  all  were  ready  Josiah  Strong  and  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo, 
Leon  Shore  and  Ruth  Lahgoon,  armed  capapie,  left  Talasee  bound 
for  Snodon  the  Dreary,  as  Helen  had  characterized  the  place  in 
one  of  her  letters.  They  went  directly  to  Calamit  where  they  re- 
mained several  hours.  Mr.  Strong's  first  visit  there,  the  myste- 
ries which  still  hung  over  Beadland,  Euth's  first  discovery  of 
Banna  and  Iro  and  their  subsequent  visit  to  the  place,  and  the 
fate  of  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  were  some 
of  the  subjects  discussed. 

From  thence  they  went  to  the  old  town  of  Snodon  where  in  a 
whirling  sea  of  thought  Josiah  and  Banna  stood  and  gazed  upon 
the  spot  where  they  first  saw  each  other,  and  where  at  that 
moment  was  born  a  love  that  never  wavered  during  the  trying 
vicissitudes  of  their  eventful  lives. 

It  was  near  Nere  Nara,  the  great  rock  pillar  already  described, 
and  at  the  mention  of  which  Umausauga  had  been  seen  to  shed 
tears.  Seated  upon  the  steps  within  its  arch  they  dwelt  silently 
upon  the  past,  "sadness,  hope  and  gladness"  passing,  like  a 
weaver's  shuttle,  back  and  forth,  in  and  through  their  minds. 
None  of  the  few  natives  who  lived  near  were  to  be  seen.  Leon 
and  Ruth  had  wandered  away  to  the  great  flat  rocks  which  lie  to 
the  south  and  were  gathering  flowers  of  the  wild  honeysuckles 
which  grew  in  their  crevices.  They  walked  and  talked  until  un- 
expectedly they  reached  a  swamp  hard  by.  There  they  discover- 
ed other  flowers  and  jack-in-the-pulpit  was  among  them.  The 
solitary  finger  of  one  of  these  droll  plants  seemed  to  beckon  to 
Leon  and  say,  "Come  and  get  me."  As  it  grew  upon  the  margin 
of  the  bog  he  obeyed  the  silent  monitor,  and  being  weary,  as  they 
supposed,  the  twain  seated  themselves  upon  a  great  boulder  con- 
veniently near. 

114 


In  the  meantime  Mr.  Strong  and  his  companion  became  weary 
of  silence  and  began  to  talk  again,  though  in  a  tone  quite  differ- 
ent from  their  previous  conversation. 

''Do  you  know,  dear  one,  for  such  I  now  venture  to  call  you, 
how  dear  this  place  is  to  me?"  asked  Josiah  of  the  blushing  girl 
at  his  side.     "And  why,  Mr.  Strong,  is  such  a  place  so  dear  to 
you?"  she  asked  in  trembling  tones.     "Because  here  I  first  saw 
you,  the  only  woman  whom  I  can  always  truly  love."  "And  she 
a  poor,  unknown  savage  who  had  never  heard  the  name  of  God ! 
0  Mr.  Strong,  can  you  be  in  earnest?"     "Yes,  my  own  'Twink- 
ling Star,'  in  earnest,  absolutely!     Though  you  may  have  been 
comparatively  unknown,   you  never  were   a  savage.     The  best 
blood  of  Spain,  pure  Aryan  blood,  beats  gladly  in  your  heart ;  the 
rich  red  blood  of  the  Cid  Campaedor.    Blood  as  proud,  as  noble 
and  as  brave  as  ever  beat  in  human  heart  was  his.     And  so  is 
yours.    Then  too,  the  blood  of  your  mother,  the  peerless  Elancy- 
dyne,    the    'Shooting    Star'    that    blazed    upon    the    red-stained 
plains  of  Numerado,  Rodoata  and  Arharra,  with  such  dazzling 
splendor,  also  beats  in  your  heart  and  runs  through  your  veins. 
As  we  now  know  your  mother  was  the  daughter  of  an  English 
nobleman,  the  same  race  to  which  I  belong,  and  of  which  we  are 
both  surely  proud.    Then  say  not  my  Eltrovadyne,  my  Glittering 
Star,  and  dearer  than  all,  my  Banna  the  Beautiful,  for  my  this 
name  I  first  knew  you,  that  you  ever  were  a  savage.     And  still 
more,  as  the  daughter  of  undisputed  royalty,  your  rights  would 
place  you  on  a  throne  to-day.     So  darling,  you  are  not  only  of 
noble  blood,  but  that  of  royalty  as  well.     As  such  I  salute  you, 
and  bid  you  all  hail  my  beautiful,  my  only  queen!" 

In  an  honest  endeavor  to  repeat  a  long  history  in  a  few  words, 
and  overcome  with  intense  earnestness,  the  speaker  paused  for 
want  of  breath  to  proceed.  He  looked  at  the  trembling  girl  who 
was  crying  as  if  broken-hearted.  For  the  first  time  he  took  her 
hand  in  his,  and  placing  the  other  on  her  shoulder  continued : 

"0,  Banna,  for  a  long  time  you  must  have  knoAvn  that  I  love 
you  dearly.  Because  of  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  country 
and  my  earnest  wish  to  tell  you  so  at  the  very  place  where  I  first 
met  you,  I  have  not  mentioned  the  subject  until  now.    The  time 

115 


has  come  at  last.  I  can  not  afford  to  let  it  pass  unheeded.  Then 
with  the  full  assurance  of  all  my  heart,  will  you  here  and  now 
consent  to  become  my  wife?"  Still  trembling  the  girl  remained 
silent  and  thoughtful  for  a  little  while.  Then  she  deliberately 
took  the  polished  mussel  shell  from  her  bosom  and  quietly  show- 
ing him  its  contents  said:  "Here  is  my  answer.  Since  I  took 
this  lock  of  your  hair  from  here  on  the  same  day  that  a  mean  boy 
snatched  it  from  your  head  and  threw  it  away,  I  have  carried  it 
near  my  heart  almost  constantly.  I  would  not  exchange  it  for 
the  brightest  diadem  that  ever  crowned  a  queen.  If  I  think  so 
much  of  a  single  lock  I  have  no  words  to  tell  how  much  I  should 
value  all  that  clustered  around  it.  So,  as  you  are  the  only  man 
I  ever  loved,  I  am  free  to  say  that  I  am  willing  to  become  your 
wife." 

Mr.  Strong  eagerly  grasped  her  hand  with  both  of  his,  and 
gently,  tenderly  leaned  his  head  upon  her  shoulder.  She  re- 
turned the  pressure  and  softly  placing  her  head  upon  his  manly 
breast,  they  both  audibly  thanked  God  for  the  happy  consum- 
mation of  their  fondest  earthly  hopes.  Ah !  ah ! — the  irony  of 
fate !  Two  lovers,  both  of  whose  hearts  were  always  readily 
responsive  to  all  the  fine  feelings  of  human  nature,  whose  acts 
were  often  close  akin  to  the  acts  of  an  angel,  and  who  never 
caused  each  other  to  feel  either  pain  or  sorrow,  had  plighted 
their  troth  over  the  sleeping  dust  of  a  victim  of  unrequited 
love ! 

A  hard  battle  had  been  fought  and  won  hard,  not  because  one 
had  ever  seriously  doubted  the  other,  but  because  of  the  turbu- 
lent times  in  which  they  lived,  and  the  many  difficulties  incident 
to  pioneer  life — a  life  vastly  more  trying  than  this  or  any  suc- 
ceeding generation  can  ever  know. 

At  last  the  lovers  remembered  that  there  were  other  beings  in 
the  world  to  claim  their  attention ;  a  lesson  seldom  forgot  and 
never  neglected.  And  now  that  the  hitherto  dreary  old  town 
of  Snodon  seemed  to  have  taken  on  new  life,  they  thought  all  the 
world  akin.  The  curious  rock  pillar,  the  quaint  old  wigwams  and 
the  unfrequented  paths  around  them,  all  decorated  with  festoons 
of  spider  webs  spun  with  geometrical  accuracy,  and  spread  in 

116 


rich  profusion  upon  myriads  of  wild  flowers  that  swayed  back 
and  forth  in  the  golden  sunshine,  instead  of  seeming  desolate  as 
heretofore,  were  now  arrayed  in  gorgeous  robes  of  blue,  violet 
and  gold.  This  transformation  made  them  long  to  tell  their 
truant  companions  how  happy  they  were. 

Lost  in  their  own  thoughts,  Leon  and  Ruth  were  loth  to  leave 
the  vine-clad  boulder  upon  which  they  sat.  They  had  ceased  to 
notice  the  festoons  of  sweet-scented  honeysuckles  that,  moved  by 
the  evening  breeze,  were  playing  hide  and  seek  all  around  them. 
Leon  Shore  was  twirling  a  long,  slender  jack-in-the-pulpit  between 
his  fingers,  and  calling  Ruth's  attention  to  it  said: 

"Sentimentalists  say  that  jack-in-the-pulpit  is  an  emblem  of 
Plymen's  Altar.  And  now,  my  dear  Ruth,  you  know  that  a  long 
time  ago  you  promised  to  be  my  wife  sometime.  The  matter  has, 
for  good  reasons  I  confess,  been  delayed.  I  think  the  anxious 
'sometime'  has  come  at  last,  I  now  offer  you  this  flower,  this 
Hymen's- Altar-leader,  and  if  j^ou  are  willing  for  me  to  lead  you 
to  such  an  altar  at  an  early  day,  take  it  and  make  me  supremely 
happy,  and  in  turn  I  will  do  all  that  mortal  man  can  do  to  make 
you  happy  also." 

The  blushing  girl  took  the  flower  and  kissed  it.  There  amidst 
the  deep  silence  of  the  wilderness  where  the  feathery  honey- 
suckles reached  out  their  tendrils  towards  the  stable  rocks,  and 
jack-in-the-pulpit  nodded  his  approval  from  the  swamp,  they 
sealed  their  vows. 

They  too  had  forgotten  to  note  the  flight  of  time,  and  hastened 
to  join  their  companions  at  Nere  Nara. 

When  the  parties  met  the  situation  was  at  once  comprehended 
by  all.  Congratulations  went  from  one  to  the  other  in  quick  suc- 
cession, and  together  all  rejoiced  in  very  gladness. 

Alonzo  Draper's  "little  house  in  the  woods"  was  soon  reach- 
ed. It  stood  near  what  is  now  known  as  "the  black  gum  hollow" 
in  the  northern  suburbs  of  Winder.  Herman  Scupeen,  Homer 
Jackson  and  a  few  other  families  lived  near,  Scupeen  being  the 
first  settler  of  what  is  sometimes  called  the  Morris  old  place,  and 
Jackson  built  the  "Wright  cabin"  which  disappeared  many 
years  ago. 

117 


To  use  the  words  of  one  present,  "the  girls  were  in  a  blaze  of 
glory  that  night  and  did  not  go  to  sleep  at  all,  and  the  men  stopped 
talking  only  long  enough  to  sometimes  sally  forth  and  shoot 
some  wild  animals."  However  the  howl  of  the  wolf,  the  scream 
of  the  panther,  and  the  sniff  of  the  prowling  black  bear  were 
noticed  only  when  unpleasantly  near. 

Among  those  who  came  to  offer  their  compliments  to  the  vis- 
itors from  Talasee  was  Ocean  Scupeen.  He  was  a  bold,  mis- 
chievous boy,  but  never  mean.  He  was  as  true  a  hero  as  ever 
trod  the  soil  of  any  country.  He  was  handsome  withal  and  had 
a  good  elementary  education.  His  devotion  to  Helen  Draper  was 
equaled  only  by  his  heroism.  Except  that  bright,  vivacious  girl, 
he  acknowledged  no  leader  willingly.  They  were  nearly  of  the 
same  age,  and  had  hunted  wild  game  and  played  together  from 
early  childhood.  Both  were  at  home  on  horseback,  and  the 
wilder  the  horse  the  better  they  were  pleased.  When  on  foot 
both  were  unerring  shots,  but  had  never  practiced  loading  and 
firing  when  in  the  saddle  and  on  the  run.  To  see  Ruth  and  Banna 
perform  these  feats  with  such  consummate  skill,  "set  them,"  to 
use  Ocean's  own  words,  "all  on  fire  to  do  so,  too." 

The  visitors  began  their  homeward  journey  on  the  evening  of 
the  following  day.  They  were  accompanied  by  their  friend  Helen, 
who  rode  her  high-spirited  but  well-trained  horse  already  known 
by  the  name  of  Scat.  Tata  also  was  with  them  on  foot,  and  it 
was  amazing  to  witness  the  ease  with  which  he  kept  in  advance 
of  the  horses,  even  when  at  a  full  trot.  Wanting  to  reward  the 
boy  for  ridding  the  country  of  their  arch  enemy  in  such  a  master- 
ly way,  and  at  the  same  time  secure  the  services  of  a  highly  valu- 
able friend,  the  colonists  had  arranged  for  him  to  become  one 
of  their  number.     No  better  trade  was  ever  made. 

In  due  time  that  party  arrived  at  Talasee,  and  no  one  received 
them  with  a  more  hearty  welcome  than  Pyth  and  Damon,  though 
it  required  several  days  for  Tata  to  gain  their  confidence.  To 
Banna  Mar  de  Vedo  the  world  in  which  she  grew  to  womanhood 
seemed  to  have  changed  into  a  new  one.  And  in  many  respects 
it  had. 

118 


CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Visit  to  Yamacutah  and  Eetuen. 

Trained  by  Banna  and  Ruth,  Helen  Draper  soon  learned  "to 
drive  the  cross"  on  horseback;  but  it  was  another  thing  to  load 
the  rifle  and  drive  the  cross  when  the  horse  was  at  full  speed. 
Yet  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  the  skill  of  her  trainers  and  her 
own  unyielding  disposition  "to  do  or  die"  enabled  her  to  oc- 
casionally succeed  in  both  loading  and  shooting.  Having  done  so 
for  a  few  times,  she  threw  her  bonnet  high  in  the  air  and  shouted : 

"Hurrah  for  success!  There  is  nothing  like  making  an  eifort, 
long  and  strong  if  need  be,  to  achieve  success.  My  darlings,  how 
about  that?" 

"It's  all  true,"  replied  Ruth.  "I  think,  however,  that  Scat  is 
too  frisky  for  such  work,  especially  to  begin  with." 

"She  can  practice  on  Iro,"  said  Banna  as  she  led  the  white 
horse  forward.  When  the  necessary  movements  are  learned  by 
actually  performing  them,  Helen  will  ask  Mr.  Frisky  no  odds." 

"Hurrah  for  success!"  exclaimed  the  girl  as  she  again  threw 
up  her  bonnet,  and  bouncing  upon  Iro's  back  as  a  sparrow  to 
the  top  rail  of  a  fence,  she  continued,  "Please  give  me  my  gun, 
bullet  pouch  and  powder  horn.  Hurrah  for  success  and  the 
scamp  of  a  boy  I  left  behind  me !" 

So  saying  she  gave  Iro  the  necessary  signal,  and  at  high  speed 
he  dashed  into  the  woods.  Aiming  at  a  large  tree  the  bullet 
"barked"  a  smaller  one  near  by  and  the  horse  went  on.  Now 
came  the  tug  of  war;  her  gun  was  empty.  After  many  ineffect- 
ual efforts  she  finally  succeeded  in  loading  when  Iro  was  at  a 
full  run.  Having  thus  practiced  for  a  part  of  several  days,  her 
teachers  informed  her  that  it  was  only  necessary  for  her  to 
practive  awhile  on  her  own  horse  and  then  she  "would  be  fully 
competent  to  meet  an  enemy  on  the  wing."  This  so  greatly 
pleased  her  that  she  rode  to  the  front  door  of  Mr.  Lahgoon's 
dwelling  where  a  number  of  the  colonists  had  assembled,  and 
shouted : 

110 


"Hurrah  for  success,  Helen  Draper,  Iro,  Scat,  my  darling  girls, 
and  every  one  else  that  lives  here  and  at  home,  especially  my 
mother  who  is  the  dearest,  best  and  sweetest  woman  in  all  the 
world." 

The  "darlijag  girls"  were  present,  and  leading  Helen  into  the 
house,  they  crowned  her  with  a  wreath  of  wild  flowers  which  they 
had  prepared  for  the  occasion.  Having  securely  fastened  the 
wreath  upon  her  brow,  they  threw  up  their  hands  and  said 
laughingly,  "Hurrah  for  success  and  Helen  Draper,  our  own  vic- 
torious queen ! ' ' 

A  lively,  good  natured  tussle  followed,  which  soon  turned  into 
a  real  break-down  dance.  IMost  of  those  present  quickly  joined 
in  the  giddy  whirl,  and  round  and  round,  back  and  forth  went 
the  uproarious  revelers  in  what  they  called  "a  Georgia  gallop," 
until  the  strongest  became  exhausted.  Such  was  life  in  the  olden 
time  when  life  was  real,  when  life  was  earnest,  and  effeminacy 
and  mistrust  were  almost  unknown. 

As  it  was  impossible  to  obtain  a  marriage  license  in  that  part 
of  the  country,  after  the  dance  was  over  a  party  was  formed  to 
visit  Yamacutah  or  Tumbling  Shoals  where  lived  a  minister  who 
was  authorized  to  issue  such  papers.  It  consisted  of  Josiah  Strong 
and  Banna  ]\Iar  de  Vedo,  Leon  Shore  and  Ruth  Lahgoon,  Abel 
Trent  and  Helen  Draper,  to  which,  Joseph  Starr,  the  former  mes- 
senger to  that  place,  was  added  as  guide  and  always  welcome 
companion,  especially  in  time  of  danger. 

Abe  Trent,  as  already  known,  had  long  ardently  loved  Euth 
Lahgoon,  but  proved  himself  to  be  too  much  of  a  gentleman  to 
bear  ill  will  to  the  man  who  had  supplanted  him.  Speaking  of 
the  matter  he  said:  "I  attach  no  blame  to  any  one.  If  I  loved 
Ruth  Lahgoon  it  was  because  I  had  never  seen  Helen  Draper." 

No  wonder  then  that  Abe  was  anxious  to  accompany  his 
friends,  especially  as  he  too  was  always  a  welcome  companion  as 
well  as  a  friend  who  never  failed  to  respond  to  the  call  of  duty. 

Well  mounted,  well  armed,  and  carrying  their  dogs  and  hunt- 
ing horns  with  them,  the  party  reached  their  destination  in  due 
time.  They  rejoiced  to  meet  that  noble  band  of  pioneers  who  had 
preceded  them,  and  whose  fame  had  reached  far  beyond  the  lim- 

120 


its  of  their  travels.  They  received  that  royal  weleome  which 
such  men  as  Jordan  Clark,  Jacob  Bankston,  John  Harris,  Dale 
Clover,  Dr.  Henry  Therrauld,  Jared  Cunningham,  James  Mont- 
gomery and  Hiram  Bingham  can  only  give.  A  salute  of  fourteen 
guns,  two  each,  for  their  guests,  was  fired,  and  in  response  double 
that  number  was  given  by  the  visitors.  All  this  was  followed  by 
the  united  shouts  of  both  parties  which  raised  such  a  din  that, 
as  usual,  the  dogs  howled  and  the  wild  animals  in  the  neighbor- 
hood ran  to  their  hiding  places.  Dinner,  consisting  of  "hog  and 
hominy"  and  many  of  the  meats  known  to  the  native  forests  and 
streams — meats  boiled,  stewed,  baked  and  broiled  after  the  tooth- 
some style  of  Mrs.  Clover's  cooking.  Then  too  there  were  butter 
and  milk  and  cheese  made  after  the  old  Virginia  fashion,  and 
rich,  porous  ''johnny  cakes,"  and  "batter  cakes"  made  of  un- 
bolted rye  flour,  good  to  the  taste. 

Instead  of  sitting  around  in  idleness  and  waiting  for  their  host- 
ess to  serve  them,  the  three  Talasee  girls  went  to  work  as  they 
did  at  home.  Rolling  up  their  sleeves  and  tucking  up  their  dress- 
es, they  cooked,  washed  dishes,  carried  water  and  swept  the 
houses  and  yards  around  them.  Then  shouldering  their  rifles 
they  roamed  through  the  woods  and  showed  the  admiring  citi- 
zens that  they  could  "bring  down  a  buck  at  full  tilt,"  or  "chip  a 
squirrel"  from  the  top  of  the  loftiest  tree  when  riding  at  full 
speed. 

"Can  it  be,"  thoughtfully  observed  the  quaint  John  Harris 
when  speaking  of  these  girls  one  day,  "can  it  be  that  such 
flowers  will  ever  fade,  such  eyes  ever  grow  dim,  and  such  nerves 
ever  become  unsteady?" 

"Yes,  yes,  but  they  will  bloom  again  in  Heaven;  for  I  find  that 
all  three  of  them  are  devoted  Christians,"  replied  Dr.  Therrauld 
who  happened  to  hear  the  remark  so  seriously  made. 

And  that  was  the  turning  point  in  the  life  of  the  wonderful 
John  Harris  who,  though  never  a  bad  man,  was  never  seriously 
inclined  until  he  began  to  consider  the  mutations  of  time  as 
brought  to  his  attention  by  the  foregoing  episode. 

The  men  spent  their  time  in  conversation,  hunting,  fishing,  run- 
ning, jumping,  and  in  a  critical  examination  of  the  mysterious 

121 


circle*  and  its  appendages  which  then  existed  at  that  place.  Thus 
four  days  passed  away  like  the  shadows  of  an  hour  before  the 
Talasee  party  could  get  their  own  consent  to  leave  such  con- 
genial friends  as  the  Yamacutahans  proved  themselves  to  be. 
But  early  on  the  morning  of  the  fifth  day  after  their  arrival  they 
tore  themselves  away  and  began  their  homeward  journey. 

The  parting  of  the  girls  with  the  lovely  and  accomplished  Mrs. 
Clover  and  her  little  daughter  Flora  was  touching,  even  to  the 
lion-hearted  men  who  stood  about  them. 

Josiah  Strong  and  Leon  Shore  carried  their  long-coveted  mar- 
riage licenses  with  them.  They  had  been  issued  by  Dr.  Therrauld, 
the  same  that  afterwards  gave  a  license  authorizing  the  marriage 
of  William  T.  Brantly  to  Idalone  LeCain  at  the  Dunson  log-roll- 
ing. He  and  the  two  famous  singers  of  that  age,  Jared  Cunning- 
ham and  James  Montgomerj^  accompanied  the  party  to  Talasee. 

Abe  Trent  said  he  wanted  a  license  too,  but  did  not  know 
whether  to  apply  for  one  or  not.    When  asked  why,  he  said : 

"I  can  not  bring  Miss  Helen  around  to  the  sticking  point.  Sh« 
seems  to  think  pretty  well  of  me ;  but  then  she  apparently  thinks 
the  same  of  everybody  else.  Somehow  she  refuses  to  make  any 
distinction.  'Spect  that  harum-scarum  Ocean  Scu — or  whatever 
his  name  is,  has  something  to  do  with  it.  That's  just  my  luck  at 
any  rate." 

However,  Abe  did  not  relax  in  his  attentions  to  Miss  Helen. 
She  continued  to  be  kind,  gentle  and  sometimes  affectionate  even 
to  loveliness.  Her  individuality  was  very  marked,  and  frequently 
hard  to  understand. 

One  of  the  peculiarities  of  the  visit  was  that  the  dogs  of  the  two 
colonies  refused  to  be  friendly,  and  on  several  occasions  open 
hostilities  arose  between  them.  This  continued  until  the  re- 
turning party  reached  some  point  not  far  from  where  Jefferson 
now  is.  There  the  Talasee  dogs,  led  by  Pyth  and  Damon,  brought 
a  huge  black  bear  with  two  half-grown  cubs  to  bay.  A  battle 
royal  followed  which  seemed  to  be  going  in  favor  of  the  dogs  un- 
til another  still  larger  bear  came  to  the  rescue  of,  perhaps,  his 

*The  reader  will  find  a  full  description  of  the  "Circle"  in  Yamaeutah  in 
this  work. — Ed. 

122 


family.  Then  for  once  Pyth  and  Damon  had  to  stand  baek. 
Upon  this  the  Yamacutah  dogs  evidently  thought  that  foul  play 
had  been  used,  and  dashing  forward,  with  bristles  erect,  the 
battle  was  renewed  and  soon  ended  in  favor  of  the  dogs.  Though 
several  rifles  were  ready  for  instant  use  if  necessary  for  the  safety 
of  the  furious  assailants,  not  a  shot  was  fired.  The  curious  feature 
of  the  case  was  that  on  all  future  occasions  these  dogs,  when 
thrown  together,  were  not  only  friendly,  but  fought  for  each  oth- 
er and  played  together  like  so  many  puppies.  Will  those  who  pro- 
fess to  believe  the  dog  destitute  of  reasoning  power  explain  this 
wayside  incident? 

Early  in  the  afternoon  the  Talasee  party  reached  the  crest  of 
the  hill  that  overlooked  Fort  Strong  a  little  beyond  the  branch 
which  still  goes  rippling  by.  Their  arrival  had  been  anticipated. 
That  moving  Tata,  like  a  disembodied  spirit  floating  through  the 
silent  air,  reported  them  homeward  bound  more  than  two  hours 
before  they  were  seen  on  the  hill.  Consequently  their  friends 
were  prepared  to  give  them  a  gracious  reception. 

Look!  Yonder  on  the  outskirts  of  the  still  increasing  com- 
pany as  the  people  emerge  from  the  adjacent  houses,  stands 
Eichard  Easley,  Abednego  Moore,  Edward  Belknap  and  Phelan 
Lahgoon.  They  are  dressed  in  the  same  old  blood-stained  gar- 
ments they  wore  on  the  battle  fields  of  Brandywine  and  Sara- 
toga. See!  The  bullet  and  sabre  scars  cross  upon  their  hands 
and  faces.  They  stand  at  dress  parade.  In  front  of  Ed  Belknap 
there  is  an  old  drum,  beaten  and  bruised  by  hard  service.  His 
fingers  clutch  the  drum  sticks,  and  the  spirit  of  war  glitters  in 
his  eyes.  At  his  side  stands  Phelan  Lahgoon  with  a  fife  in  his 
hand.  All  eager  to  peal  forth  its  shrill  notes  once  more,  his  lips 
pucker  and  his  fingers  move  from  note  to  note  silently.  On  the 
left  is  Eichard  Easley,  a  tall,  angular  man  of  iron  nerve  and  im- 
mense physical  power.  He  carries  a  heavy  rifle,  and  at  his  side 
hangs  a  tattered  and  torn  haversack  and  a  dingy  wooden  can- 
teen. In  front  stands  the  tall  and  elegant  form  of  Abednego 
Moore.  He  holds  the  same  battle-scarred  flag  that  his  brother- 
in-law,  Josiah  Strong,  carried  at  the  siege  of  Augusta.  All  eager 
to  move,  Mr.  Moore  waves  the  flag  back  and  forth  and  begins  to 

123 


mark  time.  The  soldiers,  all  of  whom  had  seen  hard  service,  make 
one  step  forward,  the  drum  roars,  the  fife  screams,  and  the  old 
flag  flutters  in  the  brisk  evening  breeze.  Tramp  !  tramp !  tramp ! 
go  the  men  to  the  thrilling  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle.*  They  turn 
to  meet  the  approaching  party  from  Yamacutah.  The  concourse 
of  all  the  people  present  fall  into  line.  Men  pull  off  their  hats, 
and  women  flutter  their  handkerchiefs  around  their  heads.  The 
marching  throng  begins  to  shout.  Old  Tom,  the  bell  in  the  fort, 
sends  forth  its  sonorous  peals.  The  keen,  quick,  discordant  blasts 
of  five  or  six  tin  trumpets,  about  seven  feet  long,  unite  with  the 
bell,  drum  and  fife,  to  swell  the  loud  acclaim.  The  men  shout  and 
the  women  sing  the  grand  old  song, 

"We  all  come  forth  to  meet  you  with  the  glad  refrain — 
You  are  coming  back  to  mother — coming  home  again. '"^ 

Look!  The  columns  meet  between  the  branch  and  the  fort. 
The  returning  party  has  thrown  itself  into  single  file.  The 
heroic  Dr.  Henry  Therrauld  is  in  front.  In  copious  torrents  tears 
are  streaming  from  his  eyes.  The  scene  is  too  much  for  him, 
strong  as  he  is.  It  carried  him  back  to  the  trying  times  when 
he  too,  like  Easley,  Moore,  Strong,  Belknap,  Shore,  Trent  and 
Lahgoon,  so  valiantly  fought  for  God  and  their  native  land. 

The  columns  unite  and  march  to  the  front  of  the  fort.  The 
general  uproar  ceases,  congratulations  go  around  and  all  engage 
in  a  general  conversation. 

Umausauga  is  sitting  on  a  stump,  arms  folded  across  his  breast, 
and  as  immovable  as  a  marble  statue.  In  an  open  space  near  by 
him  Tata  Nyxter,  the  scout,  is  dancing  the  ramoja,  or  green  corn 
dance.  It  strains  the  eyes  to  follow  his  movements.  Sometimes 
he  seems  to  be  a  shadow  flitting  through  the  air,  or  becoming 
rigid,  forms  himself  into  a  hoop  and  bowls  over  the  ground  like 
a  running  wheel.  See !  he  now  assumes  the  form  of  a  bow,  and, 
in  perfect  time,  dances  with  both  hands  and  feet  until  he  reaches 

*This  old  air,  "Yankee  Doodle,"  was  known  in  England  in  the  time 
of  Cromwell,  and  was  sung  in  our  New  England  colonies  before  the 
Kevolution. — Ed. 

124 


a  tall  tree,  up  which  he  scampers  much  like  a  scared  cat.  Reach- 
ing the  branches  he  looks  down  with  a  comical  expression  playing 
over  his  face,  as  much  as  to  say,  "You  can't  do  that." 

A  hearty  laugh  greets  the  comical  looks  and  grotesque  actions 
of  the  boy,  and  again  the  drum,  fife,  bell  and  bugles  create  a 
wild  concourse  of  sounds  which  cease  only  when  dinner  is  called. 

Though  no  special  preparations  had  been  made,  it  was  sub- 
stantially like  that  served  at  Yamaeutah,  and  like  that  was  greatly 
enjoyed  by  all  present.  Yet  not  one  drop  of  intoxicating  liquor 
was  seen  at  either  place.  Once  more,  such  was  life  in  old  times 
when  selfishness  had  small  share  in  shaping  the  affairs  of  men. 

It  was  Friday  evening.  That  same  afternoon  it  was  arranged 
by  common  consent,  "That  next  Sabbath  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.  May 
the  4th,  1794,  Johnson  Josiah  Strong  and  Miss  Banna  Mar  de 
Vedo  are  to  be  married  inside  the  altar  in  front  of  the  preaching 
stand ;  that  Umausauga  give  his  adopted  daughter  away,  and  that 
Rev.  Henry  Therrauld  of  Yamaeutah,  perform  the  marriage  cere- 
mony. And  furthermore,  that  Leon  Shore  and  Miss  Ruth  Lah- 
goon  be  also  married  at  the  same  time  and  place;  that  Phelan 
Lahgoon  give  his  daughter  away  and  that  Rev.  James  Tinsley 
of  Talasee  perform  the  marriage  ceremony.  And  further,  that 
the  contracting  parties  shall  kneel  while  their  vows  are  being 
made;  that  the  brides  shall  wear  plain  home-spun  and  home- 
woven  dresses,  and  be  of  the  same  style  and  finish  precisely; 
that  Abel  Trent  and  Miss  Helen  Draper  shall  be  the  special  at- 
tendants upon  both  parties,  and  that  the  day  shall  be  devoted  to 
religious  services  entirely." 

The  foregoing  account  of  the  remarkable  events  which  were 
to  be  celebrated  at  a  future  time  is  given  in  the  exact  words  of 
the  original  record.  It  was  written  by  a  secretary  with  whom  we 
have  not  met  before,  Mrs.  Clara  Linton,  probably  wife  of  Robert 
Linton.  Evidently  she  did  not  use  the  common  goose  quill  pen, 
but  one  made  of  a  reed  that  grew  on  the  river  bank.  Anyway, 
the  writing  was  in  an  elegant,  bold  round  hand,  "plain  as  print." 

If  even  a  small  proportion  of  the  important  events  that  took 
place  during  the  settlement  of  this  country  had  been  as  carefully 
recorded  as  those  of  Talasee  an  interesting  history  of  the  people 

125 


might  be  written.  As  it  is  few  of  their  names  are  known,  and 
their  deeds  have  passed  away  with  the  smoke  of  their  camp 
fires. 

It  was  Sunday.  Two  days  had  come  and  gone  since  the  jubilee. 
Things  holy  and  divine  were  to  take  the  place  of  worldly  gladness. 
A  large  arbor  had  been  erected  with  improvised  seats  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  people ;  and  it  had  been  announced  that  at 
10 :30  A.  M.  Dr.  Therrauld,  the  great  and  good  man  from  Yama- 
cutah  would  preach.  Every  citizen  of  the  country  both  white 
and  red,  had  a  special  invitation  to  attend  the  meeting. 

It  is  a  typical  May  morning.  No  where  is  a  cloud  to  be  seen 
between  the  green  earth  below  and  the  clear  blue  sky  above. 
Save  the  plaintive  undertone  that  murmurs  through  the  tree  tops, 
silence  reigns  at  Talasee.  The  woodman's  axe,  the  crack  of  the 
rifle,  the  barking  of  dogs,  the  hunter's  horn,  and  the  rattle  of 
the  little  mill  at  the  shoals  are  all  hushed  now.  Surely  God  is 
pouring  down  a  shower  of  blessings  from  the  wide-open  windows 
of  heaven. 

Aye,  verily !  And  there  is  not  room  enough  in  Talasee  to  con- 
tain it  silently.  Listen!  some  one  is  singing,  and  0  such  a  sweet 
song !  It  is  the  full  rich  voice  of  Mrs.  Letty  Moore.  She  is  sit- 
ting outside,  near  her  cabin  door,  singing  Watt's  Sabbath  Hymn 
—"Welcome  sweet  day  of  rest."  Soon  other  voices  unite  with 
hers,  and  on  and  on  to  other  hymns  and  other  cabins  the  music 
spreads  until  the  hills  and  valleys  around  become  vocal  with 
songs  of  praise  and  adoration. 

Hark!  the  singing  ceases!  Old  Tom  announces  from  the  fort 
that  preaching  hour  is  near.  Soon  the  people  begin  to  gather  at 
the  arbor.  Most  of  the  white  people  of  the  country,  some  from 
as  far  as  Snodon  and  vicinity,  were  present.  Umausauga,  Eto- 
hautee,  Tata,  Notha  Neva  and  a  few  other  Creeks  are  there  also. 
The  preacher,  being  a  man  of  imposing  personality,  was  looked 
upon  with  something  like  awe,  and  his  presence  was  not  only 
an  inspiration  to  the  good,  but  commanded  the  respect  and  at- 
tention of  even  rude  strangers.  His  text  was  from  John  3:16, 
"God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son  that 
whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish  but  have  everlast- 

126 


ing  life."  It  was  a  powerful  discourse  for  any  time  or  any  place, 
and  though  its  chief  purpose  was  to  show  Banna  the  plan  of  sal- 
vation, it  produced  much  other  good  fruit. 

After  preaching,  an  opportunity  was  given  to  join  the  church, 
and  the  first  to  give  her  hand  was  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo,  and  the 
last  was  Umausauga.  All  of  her  close  companions  were  already 
members  of  the  church  and  they  had  allowed  no  favorable  oppor- 
tunity to  pass  without  giving  her  religious  instruction.  Rev. 
Mr.  Tinsley  had  read  the  New  Testament  through  in  her  im- 
mediate presence,  always  stopping  to  explain  such  parts  as  he 
thought  necessary  and  to  answer  such  questions  as  she  asked 
him.  He  was  an  able  expositor,  and  his  labors  were  amply  re- 
warded. Then,  too,  the  sermon  to  which  she  had  just  listened, 
though  the  first  she  ever  heard,  threw  a  flood  of  light  upon  the 
Christian's  pathway  that  enabled  her  to  understand  some  of  her 
duties  as  a  traveler  therein  better  than  she  ever  understood  them 
before. 

It  was  2 :40  in  the  afternoon.  Again  Old  Tom  in  half  dolorous 
tones  announced  evening  services.  Several  more  natives  were 
present  than  in  the  forenoon.  They  had  doubtless  come  to  wit- 
ness what  they  called  "the  passing  away"  of  one  whom  they  had 
long  thought  a  member  of  their  own  race,  but  somehow  superior 
to  them.  The  candidates  were  among  the  last  to  arrive.  The 
girls  were  dressed  as  already  indicated;  and  if  one  was  a 
''Glittering  Star,"  the  other  was  certainly  a  close  twin  sister. 
They  were  radiantly  beautiful.  The  most  unique  figure  present 
was  Umausauga.  For  the  first  time  he  had  been  induced  to  wear 
tight  pantaloons  and  a  swallow-tailed  coat.  Though  not  a  bad 
looking  man  nor  wanting  in  hard  sense,  circumstances  had  placed 
him  in  an  awkard  position  that  day.  He  did  not  know  just  what 
nor  just  how  to  do.  He  doubtless  felt  queer  in  his  new  suit. 
Much  to  the  amazement  of  those  inclined  to  smile,  he  was  con- 
stantly fumbling  with  his  long  coat  tail  as  if  something  serious 
was  the  matter  with  it.  Seemingly  however,  he  neither  saw  nor 
heard  anything. 

Rev.  Mr.  Tinsley  preached  the  evening  sermon  from  Isa  27; 
2,  3.    "Sing  ye  unto  her,  a  vineyard  of  red  wine.    I  the  Lord  do 

127 


keep  it ;  1  will  water  it  every  moment,  lest  any  hurt  it,  I  will  keep 
it  night  and  day."  This,  like  the  morning  address,  was  well  re- 
ceived, and  being  chiefly  directed  to  the  new  members  did  much 
to  establish  them  in  the  "new  life"  firmly. 

"When  preaching  was  concluded  Old  Tom  announced  that  4 
o'clock  was  fast  approaching.  The  ministers  were  seated  inside 
the  improvised  altar,  the  candidates  were  conducted  to  the  front, 
Umausauga  and  Mr.  Lahgoon  gave  the  brides  away,  and  the  mar- 
riage ceremonies  proceeded  with  deep  solemnity.  The  kneeling 
of  the  candidates  was  very  impressive. 

And  yet  the  scene  was  not  over.  Umausauga,  who  sat  in  his 
usual  statuesque  form  during  the  ceremony,  suddenly  stood  up, 
and  tugging  at  his  coat  tail,  asked  permission  to  make  a  little 
talk.  When  told  to  proceed,  he  once  more  gave  his  coat  a  sudden 
pull  as  if  he  wanted  it  to  cover  more  of  his  body,  and  taking 
one  step  forward,  made  in  substance  the  following  talk : 

"Brothers;  the  white  man  asked  me  for  the  child  I  found  in 
the  woods.  I  gave  her  to  him.  He  is  a  good  man.  She  is  good, 
too,  very  good.  It  wounds  my  heart  deeply  to  part  with  her; 
deeper  than  any  of  you  know.  I  still  love  her  dearly.  She  is 
now  the  pet  of  many  strong  friends.  Still  she  has  not  changed. 
She  is  the  same  as  before  she  met  these  strong  friends;  the  same 
to  me.  0  Banna,  do  not  go  far  away!  Come  to  see  me  some- 
times.    Come  to  see  me  at  Adabor — anywhere!" 

Here  the  speaker  broke  down  and  Banna  hastened  to  wipe  the 
blinding  tears  from  his  eyes.  It  was  a  pathetic  scene.  After 
awhile  he  became  calm  and  motioning  her  to  be  seated  near  him, 
he  gave  his  coat  another  pull  and  continued : 

"Brothers,  some  of  you  want  to  know  why  Banna's  hair 
changes.  The  waves  are  taken  out  of  it  by  an  ointment.  Only  a 
few  of  us  know  how  to  make  it.  I  wanted  the  waves  out  of  it  so 
that  others  would  not  think  her  a  pale-face.  The  Indian  always 
has  straight  hair.  Some  of  you  were  sharp.  You  found  that  the 
waves  come  back  when  she  was  in  your  presence  for  awhile.  I 
have  been  asked  to  explain  why  this  is  so.  I  can  not  do  it  any 
more  than  I  can  explain  why  the  leaves  of  some  plants  close  when 
we  touch  them." 

128 


Again  the  speaker  paused  for  a  short  time  and  stood  in  anxious 
thought.  Then  suddenly  thrusting  his  hand  into  his  coat  pocket 
he  slowly  drew  out  a  long  nerklaee  of  glittering  pearls  and 
sparkling  diamonds.  It  then  dawned  upon  the  audience  that  it 
was  not  for  want  of  better  manners  that  he  pulled  at  his  coat; 
but  that  he  had  been  feeling  to  see  if  his  treasure  were  still  there, 
for  it  was  very  costly  and  very  beautiful.  lie  held  it  extended  in 
his  hands  until  all  had  looked  at  it  with  wondering  eyes,  and  then 
turning  to  Banna  he  continued : 

"My  lost  daughter — I  must  still  call  you  by  that  endearing 
name — this  was  your  mother's  necklace.  Your  father  gave  it  to 
her  when  he  was  made  King  of  the  Cherokees.  As  you  know,  he 
was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Numerado.  Your  mother  quickly  took 
his  place.  After  mounting  her  white  horse,  Adar,  she  pulled  off 
her  necklace.  She  left  it  in  the  care  of  your  nurse.  It  was  stolen 
from  her.  Huanaco  afterwards  learned  where  the  jewels  were 
hidden.  Soon  after  he  left  here  he  told  Daxator  your  history. 
He  was  the  chief  who  succeeded  your  mother.  He  ordered 
Huanaco  to  take  some  men  with  him  and  bring  both  necklace 
and  thief  to  headquarters.  The  order  was  soon  executed.  Daxa- 
tor took  possession  of  the  treasure  and  punished  the  thief  severe- 
ly. Only  a  few^  days  ago  he  sent  the  necklace  to  me.  He  in- 
structs me  to  give  it  to  you.  So  now,  my  darling  daughter,"  he 
said,  as  he  raised  the  precious  gift  above  her  head,  "I  place  this 
representative  of  royalty  around  your  neck  in  the  name  of  the 
Cherokee  people.  I  have  performed  my  mission.  Umausauga 
is  done." 

When  the  speaker  took  his  seat  Banna  fell  fainting  towards 
the  floor;  but  she  did  not  fall  far.  Mr.  Strong  reached  her  so 
quickly  that  she  fell  in  his  arms.  The  next  moment  Ruth,  Mrs. 
Ruth  Shore,  was  bathing  Mrs.  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo  Strong's  face 
with  cold  water  that  Tata  had  just  brought  from  the  spring. 

When  some  minutes  of  anxious  solicitude  had  passed  away,  the 
sufferer  opened  her  eyes,  and  finding  herself  in  the  arms  of  her 
husband,  she  threw  hers  around  his  neck  saying : 

"Such  a  sudden  and  unexpected  memento  of  my  unknown  par- 
ents, unnerved  me   completely.     I  have  long  been   anxious  for 

129 


something  closely  connected  with  their  memory,  that  I  could  con- 
stantly carry  with  me.  This  precious  jewel — precious  not  be- 
cause it  is  costly  and  beautiful ;  but  because  it  was  the  gift  of  my 
father  to  my  mother,  so  gratifies  my  long-cherished  wish,  that  I 
was  overcome  by  the  sad  memories  of  the  past  and  the  welcome 
joys  of  the  present  and  fainted  away.  Please  excuse  my  weak- 
ness." 

"There  is  nothing  to  excuse,  darling;  but  many  things  for 
which  I  and  all  our  friends  are  profoundly  thankful,"  replied 
Mr.  Strong,  while  he  was  yet  chasing  the  natural  bloom  back 
into  her  lovely  cheeks  with  a  hand  so  faithful,  gentle  and  true, 
that  it  never  afterwards  touched  her  otherwise. 

As  if  to  pour  a  flood  of  thrilling  gladness  into  every  heart  and 
make  the  place  seem  to  be  a  foretaste  of  Heaven  itself.  Messrs. 
Therrauld,  Cunningham  and  Montgomery  began  to  sing  in  power- 
ful, yet  sweet  and  musical  bass  and  tenor,  the  choice  hymn  of 
the  ages — 

"All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name, 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall — 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all." 

Before  the  last  stanza  was  reached  a  shout  was  heard  in  the 
camps  of  Israel.  Another  and  another  song  followed  with  similar 
effects  until  the  surrounding  forest  seemed  vocal  with  praises  to 
God.  Taken  altogether  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  pleasing 
features  of  the  day  was  the  song-service  of  that  eventful  even- 
ing. Indeed  the  singing  closed  only  at  the  instance  of  Old  Tom 
in  the  fort  when  he  gave  notice  that  the  baptismal  hour  was  near. 

The  congregation  adjourned  to  the  Shoals,  and  there,  just  a  few 
feet  above  the  rock  on  which  she  and  her  heart-friend,  Kuth  Lah- 
goon,  sat  and  speculated  upon  the  drifting  fish  that  passed  by 
them,  Banna  the  Beautiful  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Henry  Ther- 
rauld, than  whom  a  better  man  never  lived.  To  her  a  pleasing 
feature  of  the  occasion  was  that  Umausauga  whom  she  had  called 
father  nearly  all  her  life,  was  at  the  same  time  baptized  at  her 
side  by  Rev.  James  Tinsley,  himself  a  great  and  good  man.  It 
was  by  the  Indian's  request  that  they  went  under  the  water  at 

130 


the  same  instant,  arose  from  it  together,  and,  arm  in  arm,  were 
led  to  dry  land.  Perhaps  this  is  the  only  instance  of  the  kind 
on  record. 

In  this  pleasing  way  the  first  two  marriages  at  Talasee  were 
consummated.  If  ever  a  cloud  lingered  over  their  homes  even 
for  one  moment  it  was  never  known. 


lai 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Draper  and  Modin  Families  at  Snodon — The  Juq — The 
Circle — Abe  Trent — Animals — Trouble  Brewing  in  1794 — 
The  Wog — The  Watchers — Haitauhuga — A  Discovery — A 
Conspiracy — The  Signal — The  Kidnapper — To  Talasee — 
Ocean — The  Dance — N'odoroc. 

When  in  1793  Alzono  Draper,  Herman  Scupeen  and  Homer 
Jackson  moved  from  Talasee  to  Snodon,  the  lovely  extended  plain 
was  densely  covered  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  black  and  sweet- 
gums  over  which  reached  many  tall  pines  and  huge  poplars.  Lon 
Draper,  as  he  was  usually  called,  was  a  small  man,  but  muscular, 
active  and  brave.  His  wife,  Mary  Draper,  though  not  unusually 
handsome,  was  pleasing  and  attractive  in  her  manners  and  of 
most  excellent  character.  Like  most  other  pioneer  women  she 
was  "a  dead  shot,"  and  brave  even  to  a  fault.  Their  daughter, 
Helen  Draper,  is  already  known.  It  may  be  added  here,  how- 
ever, that  because  of  her  quick  action  she  was  sometimes  called 
"POWDER."  Her  best  thoughts  came  like  a  flash,  and  her  ef- 
forts to  execute  them  as  suddenly.  These  features  added  to  her 
other  equalities,  made  this  young  child  of  the  forest  a  girl  of 
wonderful  force. 

Only  the  three  white  families  mentioned  lived  at  Snodon  in 
1793;  but  ten  or  twelve  others  had  previously  settled  in  Bead- 
land,  the  nearest  being  some  half  mile  distant.  For  some  curious 
reason  which  required  a  long  time  to  explain,  only  a  few  natives 
lived  within  the  boundaries  of  the  purchased  territory.  Only  one 
small  family  lived  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  whites,  and 
all  the  members  proved  to  be  welcome  neighbors.  It  consisted 
of  husband,  wife  and  daughter.  The  man's  name  was  Modin,  one 
of  the  few  Bible  names  mentioned  in  the  history  of  the  red  race. 
He  was  of  medium  size,  well  formed,  good-looking,  of  a  friendly, 
sociable  disposition,  and  distinguished  as  a  fast  runner.  His 
wife,  or  squaw  as  he  called  her,  was  a  native  of  the  lower  Creek 
tribe  and  well  known  by  the  pleasing  name  of  Nyrulyn.    All  the 

132 


white  men  who  saw  her  said  she  was  beautiful.  Her  complexion 
was  fair  even  for  a  Creek;  but  this  was  no  uncommon  distinc- 
tion. Her  hair  was  a  curiosity.  Fine  as  silk,  jet  black,  and  with- 
out a  kink,  it  swept  the  ground  when  walking.  To  prevent  this 
she  rolled  it  into  balls,  being  careful  to  make  a  large  one  on  top, 
and  gradually  taper  others  to  her  ears.  There  were  two  rows, 
the  lower  one  not  being  rolled  to  the  scalp  hung,  pendant,  over 
her  shoulders.  Whether  pretty  or  not  the  style  was  certainly 
unique,  and  to  imitate  it  would  probably  bother  a  modern  hair 
dresser.  Below  the  row  of  hanging  balls  was  a  good  face  with 
mild,  persuasive  features,  large  black  eyes,  well-rounded  cheeks 
and  a  slightly  dimpled  chin,  all  making  her  look  like  a  woman 
superior  to  her  station  in  life. 

Mera,  the  only  daughter  of  Modin  and  Nyrulyn,  and  the  girl 
that  Banna  had  so  favorably  recommended  to  Ruth  Lahgoon,  was 
nearly  grown,  her  exact  age  being  unknown.  She  was  sometimes 
called  ''Blue  Bird,"  because,  unlike  most  of  her  race,  her  eyes 
were  of  a  clear,  liquid  blue,  and  her  voice  of  a  bird-like  melody. 
Otherwise  she  was  much  like  her  mother ;  but  her  melting  blue 
eyes  and  retiring  modesty  gave  her  such  a  superior  appearance 
that  if  she  had  been  placed  among  girls  of  any  race  few  would 
have  been  called  more  beautiful  than  Mera,  the  Blue  Bird. 

But  the  personal  appearance  of  this  child  of  the  wilderness  was 
not  the  only  feature  that  distinguished  her  from  other  girls  of 
her  race.  Her  intellectual  endowments  were  of  a  high  order,  her 
powers  of  imitation  without  any  known  limit,  her  fleetness  on 
foot  equal  to  that  of  her  father,  and  her  skill  with  the  bow  as 
true  and  unerring  as  that  of  Tata  Nyxter,  except  at  long  range. 
Modin  and  his  interesting  little  family  lived  near  the  Dr.  Saun- 
ders residence  in  Winder,  and  were  neighbors  of  Lon  Draper  who 
built  his  first  substantial  log  cabin  on  ground  that  is  still  called 
the  Black  Gum  Hollow,  which  he  selected  as  a  strategic  point. 
Around  his  house,  and  thirty  yards  from  it,  he  left  a  circle  of  tim- 
ber fifty  feet  wide  from  which  he  cut  nothing  except  a  few  un- 
sightly shrubs.  Outside  this  wooded  belt  he  cleared  a  circular 
field  three  hundred  yards  Avide  and  on  which  he  left  nothing 

133 


growing.  Thus  the  largest  field  in  Beadland  was  cleared  and 
first  cultivated  in  1794. 

Mr.  Draper  called  the  circular  field  "THE  JUG,"  the  timbered 
belt  "ITS  NECK,"  and  his  house  "THE  STOPPER."  So  the  place 
went  by  the  name  of  "The  Jug"  for  many  years,  leaving  it  to  a 
future  generation  to  add  the  word  "TAVERN." 

It  may  be  stated  that  there  w^ere  no  drunkards  in  Beadland  or 
in  the  Talasee  Colony  at  this  time,  and  that  jugs  were  used  gen- 
erally as  "jars"  are  now.  It  is  further  explained  that  Mr. 
Draper's  reason  for  clearing  a  circular  field  was  threefold :  First, 
to  enable  a  watchman  in  the  circle  of  woods  to  readily  see  an  ap- 
proaching enemy;  second,  it  was  several  years  before  bears,  pan- 
thers and  wolves  would  enter  any  large  open  space ;  and  third,  a 
circle  mystifies  any  animal,  and  if  long  traveled  in  a  narrow 
circuit,  any  living  thing.  The  jug  is  a  circle,  and  both  before  and 
since  Mr.  Draper's  day  has  mystified,  not  animals,  but  men — men 
by  hundreds  and  by  thousands. 

For  a  few  months  the  Draper  family  lived  quietly  at  their  new 
home.  The  Scupeens  and  Jacksons,  besides  the  Modin  family 
lived  near.  Helen  and  Mera  had  become  close  friends  and  were 
almost  constant  companions.  Though  in  some  respects  unlike 
Banna  and  Ruth,  they  were  as  devoted  to  each  other  and  as  true 
to  their  friends  as  the  lovely  heroins  of  Talasee  could  be,  and,  as 
was  often  proven,  the  love  and  friendship  of  the  two  pairs  were 
as  strong  as  love  of  life  itself.  Then,  too,  Abe  Trent,  the  always 
welcome  Abe — welcome  anywhere  that  true  men  were  needed 
and  respected — often  visited  there. 

On  moonlight  nights  animals  sometimes  walked  around 
the  outer  edge  of  the  cleared  field  in  search  of  a  place  to 
cross  it  without  exposing  themselves.  They  seldom  went  around 
more  than  twice  before  they  seemingly  became  disgusted  at  a 
place  that  had  no  end  and  returned  to  their  native  woods  where 
they  often  joined  in  a  chorus  of  such  dismal  howls  that  the  watch- 
ers instinctively  grasped  their  rifles  more  tightly. 

Hitherto  the  mass  of  the  natives  had  been  friendly  with  the 
white  settlers  generally;  but  in  the  spring  of  1794  it  was  noticed 
that  parties  of  red  men  passed  up  and  down  the  Okoloco  trail 

134 


more  frequently  than  at  any  previous  time.  The  maxim  that 
' '  When  an  Indian  wants  to  fool  you  he  goes  both  ways, ' '  gave  the 
whites  a  hint  that  mischief  was  brewing.  Talitchlechee  himself 
passed  several  times,  and  on  one  occasion  stopped  and  asked  some 
questions.  Abe  Trent  happened  to  be  present,  and  being  familiar 
with  the  old  warrior's  language,  they  engaged  in  the  following 
conversation : 

"Bows  and  arrows — what  sort  shoot  pale-faces?" 
"We  have  none— don't  want  any,"  answered  Abe,  pointing  to 
a  crow  that  was  sitting  on  a  tall  tree  some  distance  away.  "See 
that  crow  fall,"  he  continued,  and  with  the  crack  of  his  rifle  the 
bird  fell  to  the  ground.  "That,"  still  continued  Abe,  "shows  the 
sort  of  arrows  we  shoot." 

The  old  man  was  evidently  puzzled,  and  after  a  long  pause 
asked,  as  if  in  doubt  of  the  propriety  of  his  questions : 
"Pale-faces  come  how  many  more?" 
"Don't  know — can  not  count  them." 
"Pale-faces  here  now  how  many?" 

"So  many  that  I  can  not  count  them  either — so  many  that  we 
have  to  leave  most  of  them  in  a  big  hole  and  take  them  out  as 
we  need  them." 

The  old  leader  looked  surprised  as  well  as  a  little  incredulous ; 
but  after  apparently  considering  the  matter,  he  shook  his  head 
violently,  and  said  as  if  to  himself:  "Nodoroc!  Nodoroc!"  and 
passed  on  hurriedly. 

If  Abe  Trent  had  puzzled  the  wiley  old  chief,  he  was  in  turn 
puzzled  himself.  Though  fluent  in  the  use  of  Greek  words,  he 
did  not  know  the  meaning  of  Nodoroc.  Somehow  the  short, 
jerky  way  the  Indian  pronounced  the  word  gave  it  an  ominous 
sound,  and  he  resolved  to  apply  to  Umausauga,  the  best  authority 
he  could  think  of,  for  an  explanation. 

A  short  time  after  the  chief's  visit  the  country  was  thrown 
into  confusion  by  the  always  dreaded  visit  of  the  "WOG." 
Though  his  appearance  seemed  to  be  familiar  to  some  of  the 
natives  in  the  surrounding  country,  none  of  the  white  people  had 
ever  seen  him. 

135 


It  was  a  few  hours  in  the  night.  The  half  moon  hung  low,  and 
barely  gave  light  enough  lo  reveal  the  outlines  of  an  object;  just 
enough  to  make  shadows  that  swayed  back  and  forth  in  the  pass- 
ing breeze  seem  ghostly.  As  usual  there  were  sentinels  in  the 
timbered  circle ;  for  now  that  the  friendship  of  the  natives  was 
doubted,  the  white  people,  though  few  in  number,  managed  to 
know  almost  everything  that  was  carried  on  in  the  country. 
Looking  to  the  four  points  of  the  compass  stood  the  Draper  fam- 
ily and  Abe  Trent,  all  heavily  armed,  Helen's  position  facing  to 
the  east.  At  her  feet,  curled  up  nearly  into  a  ball,  was  Lion,  a 
huge  Egyptian  dog  as  fierce  and  almost  as  powerful  as  a  mad 
tiger.  Suddenly  the  dog  unrolled  himself.  "TOO  HOO"  broke 
the  reigning  silence.  It  was  Helen's  signal  to  the  other  sentinels 
that  something  unusual  was  on  hand.  Lion's  growl  always 
meant  something. 

The  girl  stood  looking  and  listening.  Lion  was  at  her  side, 
bristles  erect  and  occasionally  giving  a  low  growl;  lower  than  be- 
fore. Like  an  apparition  emerging  from  the  ground  Abe  Trent 
appeared  on  the  other  side.  She  realized  that  she  stood  between 
two  powerful  friends.  Just  then  her  father  and  mother  came 
near,  and  Mrs.  Draper,  pointing  across  the  field  whispered, 
"LOOK."  Lion  increased  his  growls,  and  all  plainly  saw  a  wolf 
enter  the  field  for  a  short  distance,  look  around,  and  then  hastily 
retreat.  Another  and  another  did  the  same  way  until  a  dozen  or 
more  appeared  and  looked  across  the  field  as  if  in  doubt  as  to 
what  they  should  do.  While  thus  looking,  they  suddenly  scam- 
pered av/ay  and  disappeared  in  the  woods. 

While  wondering  at  the  unusual  actions  of  the  wolves,. a  dark 
object  that  appeared  to  be  carrying  a  white  flag,  emerged  from 
the  woods  and  stopped  at  the  outer  rim  of  the  field.  It  was  then 
seen  that  the  white  flag  was  waved  from  side  to  side  like  one 
motioning  to  another  to  get  out  of  the  way.  This  continued  for 
several  minutes  when  at  last  the  dark  object  moved  forward 
still  flourishing  its  white  banner.  When  little  more  than  half 
across  the  field  a  whizzing  sound  was  heard  as  the  flag  went  back 
and  forth  like  a  boy  cracking  his  hickory  bark  whip.  Even  Lion 
became  uneasy,  and  turned  his  growls  into  low  whines.    This  was 

136 


significant  to  all.  AVhile  seeing  that  their  guns  were  in  order  Mr. 
Draper  hurriedly  whispered — 

"The  good  Lord!  It's  that  infernal  wog!"  As  bad  as  Lion 
had  seemed  to  be  seared,  his  courage  returned  and  it  required 
all  of  the  family's  efforts  to  keep  him  from  meeting  the  still 
advancing  monster.  Mr.  Draper's  rifle  carried  an  ounce  ball,  and 
though  he  had  heard  that  it  was  best  to  let  the  creature  alone,  and 
that  its  hide  was  impervious  to  a  bullet,  he  felt  sure  in  the  light 
of  past  experience,  that  he  could,  to  use  his  own  words,  "send  a 
leaden  messenger  clean  through  any  part  of  its  body,  or  plug  one 
of  its  fiery  eyes  out  either."  He  was,  however,  persuaded  to 
wait  for  further  developments,  and  the  party  retired  to  the 
house,  barred  the  doors,  and  stood  by  their  guns,  axes  and  knives, 
awaiting  the  gage  of  battle,  if  need  be. 

The  near  approach  of  the  animal  was  plainly  indicated  by  the 
whiz  of  his  tail,  and  when  he  reached  the  door  he  made  a  noise 
similar  to  the  long-continued  hissing  of  a  goose.  Having  done 
this  several  times,  he  began  his  serenade  around  the  house  and 
finding  a  small  opening  between  the  logs,  he  poked  his  forked 
tongue  through  it  as  if  trying  to  impale  some  one  between  its 
slimy  prongs.  Lion  saw  this  and  rushed  to  grap  the  tongue,  but 
Mr.  Draper  succeeded  in  stopping  him  just  in  the  nick  of  time. 
Having  thus  twice  gone  around  the  house,  he  gave  a  short  shout 
similar  to  one  made  by  a  wild  hog  in  the  woods,  and  going  west, 
slowly  disappeared.  Awhile  after  the  animal  left,  a  light  tap  was 
heard  at  the  door.  It  was  Mera  who  said  that  her  father  had 
seen  the  wog  going  away,  and  that  she  had  come  to  see  if  her 
friends  were  safe,  and  to  offer  such  assistance  as  she  might  be 
able  to  give.  "When  asked  why  she  was  not  afraid  to  be  out  at 
such  a  time,  the  noble  girl  modestly  replied  that  she  could  out- 
run anything  that  carried  along  one  side  at  a  time.  Though  evi- 
dently willing  to,  return  alone,  Abe  Trent  would  not  allow  her  to 
do  so,  and  shouldering  his  rifle  he  accompanied  her  home  "with 
as  much  pleasure,"  he  said,  "as  I  ever  felt  in  my  life." 

It  appeared  that  the  Draper  family  was  the  only  one  visited 
by  the  monster  at  Snodon,  and  that  after  leaving  there  he  was 
not  heard  of  until  he  reached  Haitaulhuga,  a  small  settlement 

137 


of  wigwams  that  stood  on  the  plain  now  covered  by  the  fine  oak 
grove  east  of  the  residence  of  Rev.  H.  N.  Rainey  at  Mulberry. 
There  lived  Siloquot,  a  head  man  among  the  Creeks,  and  a  sort  of 
politician.  He  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  treaty  made  at 
Shoulderbone  in  1786,  and  a  man  of  some  consequence.  When 
the  unscrupulous  wog  reached  his  wigwam  there  were  two  Lower 
Creek  dignitaries  present,  perhaps  on  official  business,  and  as  he 
began  to  blow  and  hiss  like  a  monster  goose,  they  ran  to  the 
woods  as  only  scared  Indians  can  run,  leaving  their  host  to  his 
fate.  But  Siloquot  found  safety  in  the  top  of  a  tall  tree  where 
the  beast,  having  hoofs  instead  of  claws,  could  not  follow  him. 

The  spring  season  was  now  far  advanced  and  Abe  Trent's  stay 
at  Snodon  where  he  was  helping  Mr.  Draper  do  some  heavy  work 
was  drawing  to  a  close.  Still  he  had  not  advanced  one  step  in  his 
love  affair  with  Helen.  They  went  hunting  on  horseback  by  day, 
and  sometimes  walked  around  the  wood  circle  watching  for  In- 
dians at  night,  but  she  would  not  talk  about  anything  except 
"hunting"  and  ''watching."  Still  she  was  the  same  lovely,  kind 
and  attentive  girl  that  she  was  at  first.  Not  one  word  would  she 
say  about  loving  anybody. 

''Why,"  passionately  exclaimed  Abe,  one  night,  when  on 
watch  "do  you  refuse  to  let  me  tell  how  much  I  love  you  when 
you  know  that  I  am  anxious  to  do  so?" 

"Dear  me,  Mr.  Trent,"  she  said,  stooping  low  to  look  under 
the  hanging  branches  of  a  tree,  "look  at  that  dark  spot-  on  the 
far  side  of  the  field.  I  have  been  watching  it  for  some  time,  and 
it  seems  to  be  coming  slowly   but  constantly  nearer." 

"Yes,"  was  the  snappish  reply,  "you  can  talk  about  anything 
but  the  one  dearest  to  me,  and  if — " 

"Just  look!  It  comes  nearer  and  nearer,"  she  said,  punctua- 
ting the  remark  with  the  click  of  her  rifle. 

"Let  it  come;  but  before  it  gets  here  tell  me  whether  you  love 
me  or  not.    It  may  be  your  last  chance." 

"0  Mr.  Trent!  It's  an  Indian  crawling  on  the  ground!  Look 
at  him!  He's  'humping  it'  back  to  the  woods.  What  does  he 
mean,  you  reckon?" 

138 


"What  do  you  mean  by—"  Just  then  a  well-known  "TOO- 
HOO-HOO"  came  from  a  long  distance  to  the  left.  It  was  the  sig- 
nal of  Ocean  Scupeen  warning  the  family  that  an  enemy  was 
lurking  in  the  woods.  Abe  ceased  to  press  his  suit  further,  and 
he  and  Helen  listened.  The  signal  was  not  repeated.  If  it  had 
been  they  would  have  known  that  the  danger  was  to  be  met  at 
once.  AVhile  still  listening  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Draper  appeared,  bring- 
ing Mera  and  Lion  with  them.  The  girl,  wholly  unexpected  at  the 
time,  was  greatly  agitated,  and  threw  herself  into  Helen's  wide 
open  arras,  saying  in  broken  language : 

"0  Helen,  I  have  seen  such  an  awful  time  this  evening!  About 
sundown  I  went  to  the  big  rocks  to  grind  corn.  I  heard  one  man 
tell  another  that  the  pale-face  girl  who  lived  in  the  circle  must 
be  carried  away  to-night,  and  that  she  would  be  returned  only 
when  all  the  pale-faces  left  the  country.  They  did  not  see  me  and 
I  hastened  away  to  tell  you.  I  soon  met  Ocean  Scupeen,  and  we 
decided  that  it  would  be  best  for  him  to  warn  you  by  a  danger 
signal  and  for  me  to  come  at  once  and  tell  you  what  the  danger 
is.  There  are  watchers  all  around  here  and  that  is  the  reason 
why  I  did  not  come  sooner,  and  why,  I  suppose,  Ocean  is  so  far 
away.    Did  you  hear  his  signal?" 

"Yes,  darling,"  softly  said  Helen,  clasping  her  faithful  friend 
still  closer  in  her  arms. 

Utter  silence  prevailed  for  awhile.  Abe  or  Draper  was  con- 
stantly walking  around  the  belt  and  looking  across  the  field.  The 
object  of  the  crawling  Indian  as  discovered  by  Helen  had  been 
revealed.  It  was  uncertain  as  to  how  soon  a  similar  effort  might 
be  made  by  an  increased  number.  AVhen  Abe  was  about  half  way 
around  his  beat,  he  heard  a  low  growl,  and  looking  saw  Lion 
standing  near  with  one  foot  off  the  ground  and  with  bristles 
erect.  "TOO-HOO!"  bravely  escaped  his  lips  and  he  was  soon 
joined  by  his  companions.  It  was  quite  dark  and  nothing  un- 
usual was  in  sight.  Yet  the  dog  continued  to  growl  and  to  show 
a  great  desire  to  rush  forward.  Mera  had  in  the  meantime  crawl- 
ed a  little  way  into  the  field  and  discovered  four  men  in  a  stoop- 
ing posture  a  little  more  than  half  way  across  it.  Doubtless  their 
presence  had  caused  Lion's  growls,  and  now  that  they  were  so 

139 


near  they  heard  him  and  ran  back  to  the  woods  on  feet  and 
hands  like  so  many  animals.  An  hour  or  more  of  silence  follow- 
ed. Even  the  dog  lay  quietly  at  Helen's  feet.  That  was  almost 
a  sure  sign  that  no  enemy  was  near. 

By  and  by  the  long-drawn  hooting  of  an  owl  was  heard,  but 
nearer  than  before.  Was  that  hoot  made  by  an  owl?  No,  owls 
do  not  dwell  on  their  syllables.  Was  it  made  by  an  Indian?  No; 
Indians  say  "TU-HU."  Then  it  was  made  by  Ocean  Scupeen. 
Yes,  listen  "TO-HU-0-0." 

"That  means  the  Indians  are  gone  from  this  immediate  vicinity, 
at  least  for  the  present,"  said  one. 

"What  shall  we  do?"  asked  another. 

"Wait  and  see,"  answered  the  others. 

Soon  Ocean  himself  joined  the  sentinels  and  reported  that  he 
had  learned  enough  to  satisfy  him  that  no  further  attempt  to 
capture  Helen  would  be  made  that  night;  but  that  they  would 
try  some  other  plan  in  the  future  when  the  dog  was  out  of  the 
way. 

"So,  Helen,"  concluded  the  faithful  boy,  "hereafter  look  to  the 
welfare  of  both  yourself  and  your  dog.  I  am  indebted  to  Eto- 
hautee  for  most  of  this  information,  and  he  will  keep  us  informed 
of  the  movements  of  the  enemy  as  well  as  he  can.  That  means 
very  much,  for  we  all  know  both  his  fidelity  and  his  consummate 
ability.  I  can  say  the  same  for  the  Modin  family;  but  in  no  case 
use  one  of  their  names  in  connection  with  this  matter  except  to 
a  known  friend."  Such  were  the  faithful  services  rendered  and 
the  sage  advice  given  by  a  mere  boy.  Nor  will  his  shadow  grow 
less. 

Sure  enough,  nothing  more  of  the  foiled  kidnappers  was  heard 
that  night.  Believing  that  any  further  attempt  to  interfere  with 
the  liberties  of  Helen  Draper  would  result  in  open  war,  and  ex- 
pecting other  emigrants  to  arrive  at  an  early  day,  it  was  thought 
good  policy  for  her  to  go  to  Fort  Strong  on  the  following  morn- 
ing and,  with  her  dog,  remain  there  until  such  time  as  circum- 
stances would  justify  her  return. 

Accordingly,  Helen,  accompanied  by  Abe  Trent  and  Ocean 
Scupeen,  rode  towards  Talasee  at  the  appointed  time.    Ocean  was 


a  bold  and  fearless  rider,  and  when  on  "DART,"  his  well-trained 
horse,  his  handsome  face  and  elegant  form  all  combined  to  give 
him  a  fine  appearance.  Abe,  knowing  that  this  dashing  young- 
ster and  Helen  were  close  friends,  was  a  little  jealous ;  still  he 
admired  the  boy  for  his  well-known  bravery  as  well  as  for  his 
kind,  unselfish  heart. 

There  was  great  joy  at  Talasee  when  the  trio  arrived  from 
Snodon.  Ruth,  Banna  and  Helen  talked  and  talked  until  Abe 
became  nervous  and  suggested  that — 

"Mr.  Strong  and  myself  be  excused  for  the  evening,  and  that 
our  mutual  friend,  Mr.  Scupeen,  be  allowed  to  remain,  and  if  pos- 
sible, prevent  the  ladies  from  talking  themselves  to  death." 

Without  saying  a  word,  Helen  wrote  something  on  a  slip  of 
paper  and  gave  it  to  Abe.    It  read  as  follows : 

"Please  let  the  boys.  Master  Josiah  Strong  and  Master  Abel 
Trent,  pass  up  and  down  the  river  until  midnight,  and  as  much 
longer  as  they  please.  Signed, 

"THEIR  GUARDIANS." 

Several  of  the  neighboring  families  were  present,  and  led  by 
Mr.  Strong,  every  man  selected  a  "pardner"  at  random,  and  all, 
old  and  young,  large  and  small,  whirled  off  into  the  mazes  of  a 
giddy  dance  which  turned  out  to  be  what  they  afterwards  called, 
"The  Regular  Georgia  Breakdown."  Ocean,  who  was  a  sort  of 
musician,  snatched  a  fiddle  from  the  table  and  stood  in  the  cor- 
ner and  began  to  play.  Tata  Nyxter,  who  was  looking  in  at  the 
door,  grabbed  one  of  the  long  tin  bugles  that  hung  on  the  wall 
and  began  to  blow  it.  Round  and  round,  back  and  forth  went 
the  dancers;  some  with  the  "double  shuffle,"  some  cut  the  "pigeon 
wing,"  and  some  "jumped  jim  crow." 

"Squeak!  Squack !  Squeak!"  went  the  rough,  discordant  notes 
of  the  fiddle;  "toot-ta-tah-toot,"  went  the  blasts  of  the  bugle,  and 
some  who  were  nearly  exhausted  kept  better  time  by  puflfing 
and  blowing  than  they  did  with  their  feet. 

It  was  a  sure-enough  breakdown,  and  though  no  rule  was  fol- 
lowed nor  time  observed  by  either  dancers  or  musicians,  they 

141 


shyly  congratulated  each  other  for  their  elegant  performances. 
Once  more,  such  was  life  in  old  times ! 

Though  playfully  requested,  Abe  Trent  had  a  real  motive  for 
wanting  to  be  absent  that  evening.  He  was  anxious  for  an  inter- 
view with  Umausauga  in  regard  to  the  meaning  of  the  strange 
word,  NODOROC;  and  feeling  sure  that  his  friend  had  more  in- 
fluence over  the  Indian  than  any  one  else,  he  desired  to  transfer 
the  interview  to  Mr.  Strong.  The  friendship  between  the  two 
was  strong  indeed.  They  addressed  each  other  as  "father"  and 
"son,"  and  because  of  these  cordial  relations  Mr.  Strong  did  not 
hesitate  to  comply  with  his  friend's  request  to  conduct  the  inter- 
view. Accordingly  after  the  dance  was  over  Josiah  and  Abe 
shouldered  their  rifles  and  crosing  the  river  at  the  shoals,  the 
former  remained  there  to  fish,  apparently,  and  the  latter  proceed- 
ed on  his  mission.  He  found  Umausauga  smoking  a  corn-cob 
pipe  of  which  he  had  become  very  fond,  and  seemed  to  be  in  ex- 
cellent humor.  "Father,"  asked  Mr.  Strong,  after  using  some 
preliminaries,  "would  it  be  wrong  for  you  to  tell  me  what 
Nodoroe  means?" 

The  Indian  appeared  to  be  surprised  and  a  little  disconcerted; 
but  after  thinking  a  little,  asked : 

"That  what  for  you  want  to  know?" 

Mr.  Strong  proceeded  to  tell  him  the  suspicious  way  in  which 
Talitchlechee  had  used  the  word  by  evidently  connecting  it  with 
Beadland,  and  then  added : 

"Father,  when  you  went  around  the  land  with  us  you  showed 
so  many  signs  of  uneasiness  that  we  have  never  been  able  to  un- 
derstand. Only  a  very  few  natives  live  on  it,  and  the  appearance 
of  Snodon  shows  that  it  is  in  a  forsaken  country.  They  seldom 
pass  through  it,  and  seem  to  be  actually  afraid  of  the  place.  And 
now,  as  you  well  know,  that  the  presence  of  the  white  man  in 
this  part  of  the  country  is  beginning  to  give  some  dissatisfaction, 
and  inasmuch  as  you  and  your  brother,  Etohautee,  together  with 
his  son,  Tata,  are  already  classed  with  the  white  people,  we  must 
know  everything  that  is  going  on  around  us.    We  have  full  con- 

142 


fidence  in  the  three  mentioned,  and  in  the  Modin  family  also,  and 
when  any  of  you  want  help  come  to  us  for  it  at  once.  Noav,  father, 
what  do  you  have  to  say?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  Indian  after  a  long  and  thoughtful  pause, 
"Talitchleehee  fool.  He  knows  Nodoroc  nothing  has  to  do  with 
white  man.  Nodoroc  in  Beadland  is,  Umausauga  to  sell  it  want- 
ed. White  man  'fraid  of  it  not.  Indian  is — scare  him  to  death. 
Few  have  seen  it  ever.  'Fraid  to  go.  To  sell  it  that  is  why. 
Devil  there  lives.     It  hell  is — Great  Spirit  not  there." 

"Please,"  said  Mr.  Strong  mildly,  "talk  like  Banna  and  I  have 
taught  you  to  speak,  and  tell  me  why  you  use  the  words  devil 
and  hell  when  speaking  of  Nodoroc?" 

"Oh,  Yes,  Yes!  I  forgot!  I'll  leave  off  the  old  Umausauga  and 
come  back  to  the  new  man  that  you  and  Banna  and  the  grace  of 
God  made  out  of  the  old  one  and  tell  you  all  important  move- 
ments of  the  enemy  as  they  occur,  and,  of  the  secret  which  In- 
dians believe  lies  hidden  in  Nodoroc.  It  is  kept  a  secret  only  be- 
cause of  the  mystery  connected  with  the  horrid  place. 

"As  I  have  already  said,  Nodoroc  is  hell,  and  the  wog  that 
passed  through  Snodon  not  long  ago,  is  the  devil  and  makes  his 
headquarters  there,  where  no  one  who  gets  in  ever  gets  out." 

"The  Great  Scott!"  exclaimed  Strong  excitedly.  "I  am  all 
anxiety  to  see  the  place,  and  instead  of  being  sorry  that  it  is  in 
Beadland  I  am  glad  of  it.  And  now  that  I  know  Nodoroc  belongs 
to  me  and  my  friends,  we  will  go  and  see  the  place  very  soon.  I 
am  sure  that  all  will  be  glad  for  you  to  go  with  us,  show  us  the 
way  to  go,  and  give  us  such  information  as  we  may  need.  Will 
you  kindly  do  so?" 

"Yes!  Yes!  Now  that  I  am  not  an  Indian  because  I  have  placed 
myself  on  the  side  of  the  white  man  and  of  the  white  man's  God, 
and  for  these  reasons  have  felt  myself  at  liberty  to  give  away  a 
secret  in  regard  to  his  place  of  torment,  I  therefore  consent  to  go. 
Will  Banna  go  with  us?" 

"Certainly." 


143 


"Then  see  that  she  does  not  go  near  the  horrid,  boiling,  bubbling 
smoking  place.    It  burns!    It  burns!" 

No  man  was  ever  more  mystified  than  Josiah  Strong  was  by 
Umausauga's  description  of  Nodoroc.  He  could  not  even  venture 
to  dispute  the  Indian's  word;  yet  almost  every  feature  described 
as  so  unlike  anything  he  had  ever  heard  of  before,  that  he  was 
lost  in  wonder  and  amazement. 


114 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Visit  to  Nodoroc — Column  of  Smoke — At  Nodoroc — The  Boil- 
ing Mud— The  Triangular  House— The  Noon  Breeze — 
Umausauga's  Narrative— The  Living  Victim — The  Shower 
of  Arrows — The  Conspiracy — Its  Victims. 

"It  burns!  It  burns!"  To  the  party  of  men  and  women,  who, 
led  by  Umausauga,  left  Fort  Strong  on  the  following  morning, 
these  words  as  used  on  the  previous  day  by  their  leader,  were  a 
profound  mystery.  The  anxious  company  consisted  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Josiah  Strong,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leon  Shore,  Helen  Draper, 
Abel  Trent,  and  Edward  Belknap.  This,  with  the  dogs,  left  a 
comparatively  strong  force  at  Talasee,  which  was  always  well 
guarded  night  and  day.  They  went  by  the  way  of  Calamit,  and 
there  they  left  the  Trail  and  turning  to  the  right,  rode  through 
the  dense  forest  to  some  point  on  the  high  plain  upon  which 
Chapel  church  now  stands.  There  they  halted,  and  looking  to 
the  north  the  leader  pointed  out  a  long,  slender  column  of  smoke 
which  seemed  to  pierce  the  region  of  the  clouds.  The  sun  shone 
brightly  and  there  was  not  a  passing  zephyr  to  break  the  reigning 
stillness,  while  slowly,  silently,  solemnly,  the  curling,  twisting, 
airy  wreaths  of  intensely  black  smoke,  marked  the  exact  location 
of  the  mysterious  Nodoroc,  the  Indian's  place  of  torment.  Doubt- 
less it  was  the  first  view  of  an  Anglo-Saxon  eye,  and  very  im- 
pressive.    Said  Mr.  Strong  in  an  effort  to  describe  the  scene: 

*'I  am  utterly  unable  to  describe  the  scene  or  to  express  in 
words  the  feelings  it  produces.  When  I  take  into  consideration 
the  associations  connected  with  it  and  with  the  other  more  awful 
one  described  in  the  word  of  God  I  am  so  overcome  with  the 
comparison  suggested  that  I  can  think  only  of  St.  John's  words 
in  Revelation— 'And  the  smoke  of  their  torment  ascendeth  up 
for  ever  and  ever.'  " 

The  sky  above,  the  air  and  the  woods  around,  and  the  faces 
of  the  company,  all  seemed  to  be  shrouded  in  a  funeral  pall.  The 
solemn  spell  was  not  broken  when  the  leader  again  pointed  to 

145 


the  column  of  smoke  and  all  moved  forward.  Having  gone  a 
short  distance  they  entered  a  valley  in  which  all  the  animals  in 
the  country  seemed  to  have  collected. 

Having  never  seen  men  and  women  on  horseback  before,  and 
perhaps  thinking  the  horses  and  their  riders  were  one  and  the 
same,  they  scampered  oilP  in  every  direction  as  if  never  before  so 
badly  scared.  Turning  slightly  from  the  little  valley  to  the  west, 
the  party  passed  over  a  narrow  plain  and  descended  a  gentle 
slope  until  they  could  see  the  column  of  smoke  forming  on  the 
surface  of  what  appeared  be  a  lake  of  bluish  water.  Going  a  little 
nearer  it  was  found  that  not  a  sprig  of  vegetation  of  any  kind 
grew  near  it  and  that  the  timber  growing  in  the  vicinity  was 
badly  dwarfed.  A  closer  inspection  revealed  the  astonishing 
fact  that  the  lake  was  not  water,  but  a  body  of  from  three  to  five 
acres  of  smoking,  bubbling,  bluish  mud  of  about  the  consistency 
of  molasses,  and  whose  surface  ranged  from  two  to  three  feet  be- 
low the  surrounding  solid  land.  The  mud  near  the  banks  was 
slightly  in  motion,  but  its  action  gradually  increased  towards 
the  center  until  about  half  an  acre  had  the  appearance  of  a 
moderately  boiling  pot  of  water.  The  movement  of  the  smoke 
which  arose  from  the  bubbles  was  sluggish,  and  uniting  in  funnel- 
shaped  form  a  few  feet  above  the  surface,  formed  the  imposing 
column  seen  from  the  distant  plain.  It  was  perhaps  five  feet  in 
diameter  at  the  base,  and  tapering  at  the  height  of  at  least  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile,  spread  out  like  the  branches  of  a  tree.  Now  and 
then  a  flickering,  bluish  blaze,  like  a  flame  from  a  smouldering 
fire,  played  for  a  moment  over  various  parts  of  the  boiling  area. 
This  made  the  smoke  more  dense  than  when  there  was  no  flame, 
and  the  boiling  was  less  violent.  It  was  said  by  those  who  had 
witnessed  this  uncommon  phenomenon  on  a  dark  night,  that  it 
produced  such  horrid  feelings  as  to  cause  some  people  to  faint  and 
made  others  so  sick  that  they  had  to  be  led  aAvay.  These  emo- 
tions were  pro1)al)ly  produced  by  the  unpleasant  stench  that  arose 
from  the  lake  when  the  flames  were  not  flickering  over  it.  The 
fire  fed  on  the  ascending  gas  that  was  thrown  up  by  the  bubbles 
and  thus  destroyed  the  offensive  odor. 

146 


There,  amid  the  dismal  solitudes  of  a  primeval  forest,  where 
the  white  man  never  trod  before,  unknown  races  of  people,  ante- 
dating the  red  man,  may  have  stood  and  wondered  over  the 
mysteries  of  Nodoroc  just  as  did  the  pioneer  company  from  Tal- 
asee ;  for  the  column  of  smoke,  the  lake  of  boiling  mud,  and  the 
flames  of  fire  that  played  over  it  must  have  been  indescribably 
grand  and  awfully  suggestive.  Who  knows  that  the  place  did  not 
mark  one  of  the  last  vestiges  of  primeval  time  when  "the  earth 
was  without  form,  and  void,  and  darkness  moved  on  the  face  of 
the  deep." 

It  was  evident  that  work  of  which  even  the  red  man  knew  noth- 
ing had  been  carried  on  at  this  curious  place  during  the  long 
gone  ages  of  the  past.  At  the  western  end  of  the  hot  mud  lake, 
and  fifty  steps  from  its  margin,  there  was  a  triangular  stone 
house  whose  sides  were  equal,  twelve  feet  long  and  eight  feet 
high.  The  stones  of  which  it  was  built  were  r-oughly  dressed,  but 
well  enough  for  them  to  fit  closely  and  remain  in  place  steadily. 
They  were  of  various  dimensions,  the  largest  being  heavy  enough, 
perhaps,  to  require  two  men  to  carry  them.  In  the  east  wall, 
facing  the  lake,  there  was  an  opening  nearly  five  feet  high  and 
thirty-two  inches  wide,  the  sides  of  which  were  better  dressed 
than  any  other  part  of  the  structure.  The  stone  immediately 
above  this  opening  or  door  jutted  out  from  the  wall  a  little  more 
than  two  feet  as  if  intended  for  an  awning;  but  a  close  inspec- 
tion showed  that  it  had  been  used  for  some  sort  of  ceremonial 
purposes.  The  upper  side  and  that  part  of  the  wall  facing  it 
plainly  indicated  the  long-continued  action  of  fire,  showing  like 
the  more  elaborate  and  artistic  altars  at  Yamacutah  or  Tumbling 
Shoals  the  observance  of  such  sacrificial  rites  as  are  attributed 
to  the  prehistoric  races  of  this  country. 

The  floor  of  this  equilateral  triangle  was  of  the  same  material 
as  the  walls,  and  in  the  west  corner  was  a  solid,  hewn  stone  altar 
having  three  steps,  on  each  of  which  were  the  same  signs  of  fire 
as  shown  on  the  projecting  stone  over  the  door.  Both  w^ere 
probably  used  in  conjunction  for  the  same  purpose.     In   1837 

147 


Gov.  George  R.  Gilmer  purchased  this  altar,*  and  in  the  spring  of 
1900,  it  was  still  where  Mr.  Gilmer  placed  it  in  the  front  yard  of 
his  residence  in  Lexington,  Georgia. 

The  indications  were  that  the  triangle  had  been  covered,  but 
no  evidence  of  the  material  used  has  survived  the  rush  of  the 
sweeping  years  that  have  come  and  gone  since  it  first  began  to 
decay. 

The  walls  were  covered  with  a  greenish  gray  moss  which  must 
have  been  the  growth  of  ages.  Seemingly  one  layer,  or  the  growth 
of  a  long  series  of  years,  had  died,  and  another  had  grown  upon 
that,  and  another  and  another,  until  the  whole  bed  was,  in  some 
places,  from  six  to  eight  inches  deep.  A  few  badly  dwarfed  oak 
and  chestnut  bushes  were  growing  in  the  moss,  and  their  roots  had 
forced  themselves  between  the  stones. 

All  present  were  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  but  now  as  they 
realized  that  Uraausauga's  declaration,  "It  burns!  It  burns,"  was 
really  true;  that  a  dry  piece  of  timber  thrown  into  the  boiling 
mud  was  instantly  burned  into  ashes;  that  a  heavy  rain  which 
had  just  fallen  evaporated  as  fast  as  it  fell;  and  that  the  only 
effect  Avas  to  increase  the  volume  of  smoke,  the  entire  party  be- 
came silent  and  thoughtful.  Even  Helen  Draper  failed  to  shout, 
"Hurrah  for  success,"  and  settled  down  to  serious  meditation. 
When  at  last  aroused  she  turned  to  Mrs.  Shore  and  said,  "My 
dear  Ruth,  I  am  about  ready  to  believe  that  we  have  fallen  into 
the  hands  of  Aladdin  and  his  lamp  and  that  we  have  been  trans- 
ported to  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea.  Have  you  seen  any  apples 
of  Sodom  growing  about  here?"  "No,  child,  no,"  answered 
Ruth,  with  a  faint  smile,  "but  talking  about  apples  makes  me 
hungry.    What  do  you  all  say?" 

It  was  nearly  noon,  and  having  brought  an  ample  supply  of 
provisions  with  them,  all  joined  in  a  hearty  dinner  at  some  dis- 
tance from  the  lake.  ' '  What  is  that  ? ' '  asked  Ruth  as  she  munched 
a  piece  of  broiled  fish  and  sniffed  the  air.  "The  old  wog  is 
getting  his  breath,"  replied  Josiah  Strong,  "as  he  always  does 

*Quite  a  number  of  the  stones  are  still  in  the  yard;  but  many  have  been 
carried  away  by  curio  seekers.  Dr.  W.  H.  Eeynolds  occupies  the  old  home 
at  present,  1914. — Ed. 

148 


just  at  noon.    Father  Umausauga  warned  me  of  this,  but  I  had 
forgotton  to  mention  it." 

A  brisk  breeze  had  set  in  from  the  southwest,  the  leaves  flutter- 
ed, the  tree-tops  waved  back  and  forth,  the  column  of  smoke  dis- 
solved, and  in  whirling  eddies  went  chasing  each  other  over  the 
ground  and  through  the  air,  and  the  stench  from  the  lake  became 
almost  intolerable.  The  breeze  continued  for  a  short  time  only, 
just  long  enough,  the  Indians  believed,  for  the  monster  that  in- 
habited it  to  get  a  good  breath.  It  was  afterwards  found  that  this 
strange  phenomenon  occurred  at  time  of  full  moon  only.  When 
the  wind  had  subsided  Umausauga,  by  request,  gave  the  follow- 
ing account  of  Nodoroc,  repeating  a  few  things  that  he  had  for- 
merly mentioned  to  Mr.  Strong: 

"To  the  mind  of  the  Creek  Indian  Nodoroc  means  about  the 
same  as  hell  does  to  the  white  man,  and  Wog  corresponds  to 
devil,  or  Satan.  For  the  meaning  and  application  of  these  names 
I  am  indebted  to  my  darling  Banna,  and  I  have  full  faith  in  all 
that  she  says.  I  was  myself  once  so  much  afraid  of  the  wog- 
devil  that  I  sold  the  land  on  which  he  mostly  traveled,  and  only 
a  few  of  my  race  will  live  on  it.  The  Creeks  believe  that  all  bad 
spirits  are  sent  here  and  when  their  bodies  die  and  sometimes  they 
die  here  and  the  wog  smooths  over  the  hole  they  make  when 
entering  the  mud  by  sweeping  his  ugly  tail  from  side  to  tide. 

"When  one  of  you  told  Talitchlechee  that  you  kept  men  in  a 
hole  and  took  them  out  as  you  needed  them,  he  doubtless  thought 
that  Nodoroc  was  meant;  and  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  that 
thought  of  the  old  chief  had  as  much  to  do  in  calming  down  his 
fiery  spirit  as  the  mortal  dread  that  he  and  all  his  warriors  have 
of  your  keen  cracking  rifles. 

"A  long  time  ago  the  place  was  hotter  than  it  is  now.  Even 
when  I  was  a  boy  you  could  sometimes  see  solid  sheets  of  flame 
shooting  over  the  surface  like  lightning  in  a  southern  storm- 
cloud;  and  the  boiling  mud  would  pop  and  crack  like  a  burning 
canebrake.  All  this  made  people,  and  its  present  condition  still 
makes  some  people  believe,  that  the  wog  was  mad  because  enough 
bad  spirits  were  not  sent  to  him.  This  belief  caused  innocent 
victims  to  be  thrown  into  the  horrid  place  to  satisfy  revengeful 

149 


and  overbearing  natures  and  to  keep  the  wog  from  visiting  them 
at  night. 

"But  all  the  victims  that  have  suffered  here  were  not  innocent. 
Many  years  ago  a  woman  who  lived  at  Jasacathor  killed  and  ate 
one  of  her  own  children.  A  hunting  party  made  the  discovery 
and  reported  the  matter  to  Urocasca,  the  Head  Man  at  the  time. 
Finding  the  report  to  be  true  he  ordered  her  to  be  thrown  head 
foremost  into  the  hottest  part  of  Nodoroc.  The  old  wog  was  said 
to  turn  over  when  she  struck  the  mud,  and  sweeping  his  tail 
back  and  forth  over  the  hole  she  made,  the  wretch,  though  often 
heard,  was  never  seen  again. 

"Many  dark  nights  she  has  run  over  these  hills  squalling  and 
screaming  like  a  demon  while  a  troop  of  children  followed  close 
behind  her  shouting  and  clapping  their  hands  as  if  greatly  en- 
joying her  misery.  Her  name  was  Fenceruga,  and  since  that 
time  it  has  only  been  used  to  scare  children. 

"All  prisoners  taken  in  war  and  those  who  are  condemned  to 
death  for  crime  are  thrown  into  Nodoroc  by  men  called  Honoras. 
At  the  battle  of  Rodoata  the  Creeks  captured  nine  prisoners.  They 
were  brought  here  and  thrown  into  the  boiling  mud.  It  was  a 
difficult  matter  to  find  a  man  who  was  willing  to  be  an  Honora, 
and  though  not  one  myself,  I  saw  the  prisoners  thrown  in  just 
where  there  was  a  blue  blaze  of  fire  playing  around  them.  They 
did  not  seem  to  care  for  anything  until  the  flames  touched  them. 
Then  all  gave  the  Cherokee  scream  of  lament.  Owoeowah ! 
Owocowah !  I  did  not  care  for  it  then,  but  0  it  seems  so  terrible, 
terrible  now. 

"I  never  had  a  wife  though  once  I  dearly  loved  a  beautiful 
girl,  and  I  love  her  memory  still.  She  was  as  dear  to  me  as  life 
itself.  Yes !  Yes !  she  was  much  dearer  than  my  life.  Her  name 
was  Nere  Nara.  She  lived  at  Snodon  where  Modin  now  lives. 
She  was  Nyrulyn's  sister;  with  soft  and  lovely  eyes  like  those  of 
the  red  deer.  Like  the  full  round  moon  in  all  its  glory,  her  face 
with  dimpled  chin  was  no  akin  to  earth  and  seemed  to  rise  and 
set  with  the  morning  and  the  evening  stars.  Glad  and  musical 
was  her  laugh  as  the  water  ripples  over  the  rocks  at  Talasee,  and 
her  cheeks  were  as  lovely  as  dewdrops  in  the  morning  sunshine. 

150 


As  Xyrulyn's  hair  is  long  and  glossy  so  was  Nere  Nara's,  though 
a  little,  just  a  little,  wavy — not  so  much  so  as  Banna's  is  now. 
She  was  as  fleet  on  foot  as  Mera,  and  as  bright  as  Mera,  too.  But 
Nere  Nara  is  gone,  now — gone  to  live  beyond  the  stars  in  the 
Happy  Hunting  Grounds  of  her  fathers — gone  to  the  white  man's 
Heaven  where,  Ouska !  Chouska  !  Loak  (Glory  to  God  !)  I  will  meet 
her  again  sometime — meet  my  lost  Nere  Nara  beyond  the  stars! 
Ouska !  Chouska !  Loak ! 

"I  was  to  carry  my  lost  loved  one  to  Adabor,  the  wigwam  on 
the  hill,  at  time  of  the  next  round  moon,  but  Watleskew,  a 
Choctaw  warrior  came  to  Snodon  and  fell  in  love  with  Sunrise 
— Nere  Nara  means  Sunrise.  He  talked  love  to  her  for  a  long 
time.  She  would  not  talk  love  to  him.  That  made  him  mad.  He 
buried  his  tomahawk  in  her  head.  She  died  on  the  very  spot 
where  Banna  gave  herself  away  to  Mr.  Strong.  Her  murderer 
fled  towards  the  north.  I  had  the  wings  of  a  bird  to  run,  and 
the  eye  of  an  eagle  to  follow  his  tracks.  I  ran  in  front,  Etohau- 
tee  and  Notha  Neva,  her  brother  whom  you  know,  kept  my  tracks 
hot  with  their  own  feet.  We  came  up  with  him  at  Thomocoggin, 
[Jefferson].  Three  tomahawks  were  instantly  buried  in  his  car- 
rion body,  two  in  his  head  and  one  in  his  heart,  which  I,  with 
my  own  hand,  tore  from  his  breast  and  gave  to  a  hungry  wolf 
that  was  prowling  around  the  place,  ^\e  brought  the  carrion 
body  here.  We  ought  to  have  brought  him  alive;  but  the  cries 
of  vengeance  called  for  haste  and  they  were  met  with  haste.  With 
Modin  to  help  us  we  threw  the  carrion  far  into  the  boiling, 
smoking  lake  just  where  dull,  bluish  flames  were  reaching  out, 
as  if  for  other  victims,  like  lightning  in  the  angry  storm  cloud. 
I  gloried  in  the  deed  then.  I  feel  differently  about  it  now.  That 
was  the  only  dead  body  ever  thrown  into  Nodoroc.  Other  crim- 
inals that  died  away  from  here,  if  buried  at  all,  lie  on  the  sur- 
rounding hill.  Look,  you  can  see  many  graves.  It  is  the  Home 
of  Accursed. 

"We  buried  Nere  Nara  just  where  she  died.  There  my  heart  is 
buried  with  her.  There,  too,  I  want  my  body  to  be  buried  at  her 
side.  Will  any  of  my  white  friends  who  may  live  longer  than 
I  do  promise  to  bury  me  there?" 

151 


The  speaker  paused  and  looked  upon  those  around  him  im- 
ploringly. Instantly  all  present  pledged  themselves  to  comply 
with  his  request,  and  to  procure  the  assistance  of  every  white 
man  and  woman  in  the  country  if  necessary.  A  faint  smile  play- 
ed over  his  features,  he  chased  the  thickly  falling  tears  from  his 
eyes  and  buried  his  face  in  the  palms  of  his  ponderous  hands. 
As  on  former  occasions,  Banna  went  and  sat  at  his  side.  She 
tenderly  chased  his  massive  brow  with  her  hands,  and  leaning 
her  head  upon  his  shoulder,  wept  like  a  stricken  child. 

By  and  by  he  looked  up  and  said:  "Excuse  me!  This  is  not 
my  weakness,  but  my  strength— my  strength  to  bear  all  things 
for  Nere  Nara.  When  she  came  into  my  life  the  sunshine  turned 
into  gold,  the  moonbeams  into  silver,  and  the  stars  into  pearls  of 
the  ocean,  the  great  blue  ocean  above,  where  God  unfurls  his  ban- 
ner and  bids  us  march  on  to  victory  beneath  it,  Ouska !  Chouska ! 
Loah ! 

"But,"  continued  the  Indian  after  a  long  pause,  "when  Sun- 
rise was  taken  away  all  the  glories  of  earth  turned  black  as  the 
smoke  of  Nodoroc.  I  could  not  see  the  blooming  flowers,  hear  the 
singing  birds  or  laughing  water.  As  I  thought  on  these  things 
my  blood  began  to  boil  as  boil  the  central  fires  of  the  white 
man's  hell  and  of  the  red  man's  together.  I  swore  vengeance 
against  the  whole  Choctaw  tribe.  I  organized  a  war  party  of 
more  than  two  hundred  followers.  When  almost  ready  to  start 
on  my  mission  of  vengeance  the  wog  began  to  appear  occasionally. 

"Some  of  you  have  seen  him  with  his  thrashing  tail,  his  great 
red  eyes,  his  grinning  lips  and  forked  tongue.  At  first  he  scared 
some  of  the  natives  to  death,  and  it  was  reported  all  over  the 
country  that  he  snatched  dead  bodies  out  of  their  graves  and  ate 
them.  This  made  me  uneasy  about  the  precious  body  of  my  lost 
Sunrise  who  had  so  suddenly  and  unexpectedly  set  in  gloom  to  rise 
no  more.  To  protect  her  from  the  abominable  creature  I  built  the 
great  rock  pillar  which  you  all  well  know  as  Nere  Nara  over  her 
grave  at  Snodon. 

"Its  foundation  is  deep  in  the  ground  to  prevent  the  beast  from 
scratching  under,  and  its  top  is  high  so  as  to  enable  men  who 
watched  the  grave  to  protect  themselves.    Every  night  for  many 

152 


moons  I  sat  on  top  of  that  dreary  pile  of  rocks  to  watch  for  the 
coming  of  the  monster.  But  it  was  a  work  of  love,  and  therefore 
pleasant.  Some  of  my  friends  were  always  on  watch  with 
me,  and  one  of  us  was  always  wide-awake.  One  time  only  the 
dreadful  thing  came  in  sight;  but  after  scaring  Hoochleohoopah, 
who  lived  where  Modin  now  lives,  away  from  the  country,  passed 
on  without  doing  any  other  mischief. 

"By  and  by,  when  the  lovely  form  of  Nere  Nara  had  returned 
to  what  Banna  calls  her  mother  earth,  the  watch  was  discon- 
tinued ;  but  though  the  place  is  black  and  dreary,  I  still  continue 
to  go  there  frequently.  Sometimes  Banna  went  with  me,  and 
sometimes  she  went  alone.  It  was  on  one  of  these  lonely  visits 
that  she  found  the  lock  of  hair  that  grew  on  Mr.  Strong's  head. 

"Vengeance  against  the  Choctaws  still  ran  swiftly  in  every 
drop  of  my  blood ;  but  another  bright  light,  almost  too  bright  for 
earth,  came  bounding  into  my  life.  I  found  a  little  daughter  on 
the  battlefield  of  Arharra.  I  carried  her  home  and  nursed  her 
with  my  own  hands.  All  too  soon  she  grew  to  be  a  lovely  woman 
— more  lovely  to  me  than  the  rising  sun — more  brilliant  to  me 
than  the  evening  star,  and  has,  in  turn,  nursed  me  with  her  own 
hands.  The  Great  Spirit  has  placed  her  in  a  happy  home.  There 
the  glorious  light  of  the  white  man's  heaven  fell  upon  her,  and 
there  the  blood  of  a  crucified  Redeemer  made  her  who  was  always 
white,  still  whiter  than  snow.  I  once  believed  all  these  things 
about  Nodoroc.  I  do  not  believe  them  now.  Banna  talked 
[prayed]  to  the  true  God  for  me.  Vengeance  is  all  gone  now.  I 
leave  that  to  the  God  she  serves — to  her  God  and  to  my  God. 
Ouska !  Chouska !  Loah !  Soul  answers  soul  that  Banna  Mar  de 
Vedo  Strong  is  right,  and  God  is  true.    Umausauga  is  done !" 

The  foregoing  is  a  free  translation  of  Umausauga 's  narrative. 

No  speaker  ever  had  a  mort  attentive  audience,  nor  was  any 
ever  more  sincere  in  his  final  conclusions.  Having  finished  his 
narrative  he  slowly  walked  far  up  the  hill,  and  facing  to  the  east, 
reclined  upon  the  ground.  Lighting  his  favorite  corn-cob  pipe  he 
began  to  smoke  and  apparently  fell  into  a  deep  meditation.  His 
companions  were  walking  about  in  various  directions  thinking 
of  the  horrid  scenes  connected  with  the  place.    Perhaps  the  fate 

153 


of  Fenceruga  and  Wetleskaw  was  most  vivid  in  their  minds;  but 
if  such  instances  were  only  a  small  part  of  what  one  man  knew  of 
Nodoroc,  what  would  be  the  sum  total  of  all  the  horrors  witnessed 
at  that  dreadful  place? 

While  the  scattered  company  was  silently  thinking  over  the 
strange  customs  of  savage  life  and  trying  to  compare  it  with  the 
light  of  a  Gospel  day,  Umausauga  arose  to  his  feet  quickly,  and 
placing  his  hand  over  his  mouth  to  denote  silence,  hastily  joined 
his  companions  near  the  triangle. 

"Silence!  silence!"  he  said  as  he  seated  himself  near  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Strong.  "There  is  no  danger  if  you  don't  interfere,  and 
keep  a  still  tongue." 

As  a  matter  of  habit  more  than  otherwise,  every  rifle  in  the 
company  "clicked"  at  the  word  danger,  and  Mr.  Strong  asked 
anxiously:  "What  have  you  discovered,  father?"  "The  Honoras 
are  coming,"  was  the  answer,  as  the  Indian  pointed  across  the 
lake  to  the  south  and  continued:  "They  have  gotten  some  poor 
wretch  for  the  old  wog.  I  saw  them  stop  and  tie  his  hands  to- 
gether. There  are  six  Honoras,  and  I  judge  from  fifteen  to 
twenty  warriors.  It  is  not  likely  that  the  latter  will  come  any 
nearer  if — " 

While  the  Indian  was  speaking  six  large  men,  dressed  in  skins 
and  decorated  with  feathers  came  in  view  from  the  direction  in- 
dicated. They  were  leading  a  medium-sized  man  whose  steps 
were  bold  and  firm,  and  looking  straight  before  him,  seemed  to 
advance  without  a  tremor.  Arriving  at  the  bank  the  Honoras 
took  hold  of  him,  three  on  each  side,  and  swinging  him  back  and 
forth  several  times,  threw  him  head  foremost  into  the  hot  cal- 
dron of  slimy  mud.  The  body  quickly  disappeared  below  the  sur- 
face, but  nothing  was  seen  of  the  wog  or  of  its  trowel-like  tail  by 
the  silent  and  almost  breathless  spectators. 

With  a  slow  and  measured  tread,  in  single  file  and  stooping 
posture,  the  Honoras  joined  their  comrades  in  the  distance,  and 
going  south,  soon  disappeared. 

Rendered  almost  speechless  by  the  dreadful  sight  just  wit- 
nessed, the  little  party  was  standing  in  wonder  over  "man's 
inhumanity  to  man"  when  the  silence  was  broken  by  the  whiz- 

154 


zing  of  a  shower  of  arrows  through  the  tree  tops  over  their  heads, 
and  some  that  struck  solid  timber  fell  to  the  ground  near  their 
feet. 

"What's  that?"  asked  several  at  the  same  time.  "I  never 
heard  of  such  a  thing  before,"  answered  the  Indian.  "But  as 
they  know,"  he  continued  thoughtfully,  "that  white  people  are 
here,  they  shot  the  arrows  to  notify  you  that  if  you  follow  them 
they  will  shoot  again." 

"Shoot  again  indeed!"  hissed  Abe  Trent,  through  his  grind- 
ing teeth.  "If  Josiah  and  Leon  will  go  with  me,  we'll  quickly 
show  'em  who  has  the  next  shot." 

The  next  moment  Abe  was  on  his  horse  and  ready  for  a  furious 
pursuit;  but  better  counsel  prevailed;  and  though  thoroughly 
mad,  Abe  complied  with  the  wishes  of  his  friends,  a  common  thing 
for  him  to  do.  Helen  Draper  had  not  said  a  word,  but  was  on  her 
horse  almost  as  soon  as  Abe  himself,  and  with  one  hand  raised  to 
give  the  necessary  signal  to  send  him  off  at  full  speed  wherever 
she  directed,  for  by  this  time  Scat  was  about  as  well  trained  as 
Alborak  and  Iro. 

Having  sent  out  scouts  and  satisfied  themselves  that  the  In- 
dians were  gone,  Umausauga  told  the  party  that  he  had  another 
message  to  deliver,  and  then  they  would  all  return  home.  Every 
one  was  at  close  attention  with  the  first  word  he  spoke. 

"Friends,  children,"  he  began,  "of  course  I  do  not  know  of 
all  the  horrors  that  have  been  witnessed  here.  Even  those  of 
which  I  do  know  something,  I  have  told  you  a  few  only.  There 
is  one  more  to  which  I  wish  to  direct  your  attention  because  it  re- 
lates to  Banna,  and  I  have  never  even  told  her  of  it.  She  was 
too  young  to  understand  it  at  the  time,  and  I  have  thought  it  best 
not  to  tell  her  until  now.  Though  a  half  Upper  Creek,  I  am  not 
a  native  of  this  part  of  the  country.  I  was  born  and  grew  to 
manhood  at  Wetumpka  [Columbus,  Ga.],  on  the  Chattahoochee 
river.  My  father,  Okokobee,  was  a  ruling  chief  over  the  Ufallayak 
division  of  the  Creek  race.  My  mother,  Elota,  was  a  Muscogee 
woman  whose  father  was  also  a  ruling  chief.  I  am  their  oldest 
son,  and  my  sister,  Eltomura,  is  next.  When  I  was  about  grown 
my  father  died.     Through  the  influence  of  the  Muscogees,  Nena- 

165 


themahola  was  put  in  my  father's  place  which  he  filled  only  a 
short  time.  Though  entitled  to  the  succession  I  did  not  want  it, 
mainly  because  such  a  course  would  have  involved  my  mother's 
safety.  So  to  shorten  the  matter  I  and  a  young  brother,  Etohau- 
tee,  whom  you  know,  came  to  Snodon  where  he  still  lives;  but 
after  the  passing  of  several  moons  I  went  to  Adabor  to  prepare 
a  home  for  my  lovely  Nere  Nara. 

"Now  it  is  a  law  of  the  Creek  Nation  that  when  the  oldest  son 
of  a  chief  fails  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  his  father's  death, 
that  his  oldest  child  shall  fill  the  place,  or  be  put  to  death,  and 
thus  stop  the  line  of  inheritance  in  an  unfaithful  family. 

"Time  passed  on  and  by  some  means  unknown  to  me,  Nena- 
themahola  heard  that  I  had  a  little  daughter,  and  that  my 
friends  intended  to  put  her  in  his  place  with  the  title  of  queen,  and 
make  me  a  Head  Man  to  lead  their  warriors  in  battle  and  perform 
such  other  duties  as  warriors  only  are  expected  to  do.  This  made 
the  chief  uneasy,  and  to  get  the  child  out  of  his  way  he  sent 
emissaries  here  to  murder  her. 

"While  their  plans  were  being  matured  Etohautee  happened 
to  be  in  that  country,  and  learning  of  them,  he  with  nine  chosen 
friends,  hastened  to  give  me  warning.  Again  my  blood  was  boil- 
ing hot.  Just  think  of  it !  Murder  Banna !  Murder  my  princess 
whom  you  all  call  'THE  BEAUTIFUL ! '—whom  I  call  'THE 
GOOD!'    Dear  child!  to  what  danger  has  she  not  been  exposed? 

"Left  a  little  child  on  the  dreary  battlefield  to  perish  with 
hunger  and  be  devoured  by  wild  beasts,  left  where  dead  men, 
growling  bears,  screaming  panthers  and  howling  wolves  were 
her  only  companions !  Next  threatened  with  death  if  she,  a  mere 
child,  should  not  be  made  a  queen,  and  with  death  to  prevent  her 
from  being  one.  And  next,  doomed  to  be  carried  as  a  slave  to 
the  dismal  death-swamps  of  the  south  because  she  refused  to  be- 
come a  servant  of  a  villain  here.  Yes,  darling  Banna,  my  tongue 
can  not  express  the  danger  to  which  you  have  been  exposed;  but 
thank  God,  0  thou  Great  Everywhere,  that  you  are  now  in  the 
hands  of  friends  who  are  strong  enough  and  willing  enough  to 
protect  you  from  all  such  dangers. 

156 


"Etohautee  and  our  nine  friends,  together  with  others  who 
live  here  remained  near  me  and  the  little  girl  until  all  danger 
was  over.  We  were  careful  to  keep  her  well  concealed  and  strong- 
ly guarded.  We  ranged  the  country  over  both  night  and  day  un- 
til one  evening  about  dark  four  men  were  seen  stealing  through 
the  woods  near  Calamit,  while  the  little  girl,  then  about  tive  years 
old,  was  sleeping  in  the  opening  beneath  the  arch  of  Nere  Nara 
with  three  men  on  each  side  and  one  sentinel  lying  flat  on  top  of 
the  pillar.  Peacefully,  soundly,  the  child  slept  there  that  night; 
but  she  dreamed  not  of  the  time  when  she  gave  herself  away  at 
that  very  place  with  a  promise  to  become  the  wife  of  a  stranger 
of  whom  she  had  never  heard.  This  increased  our  vigilance  if  pos- 
sible, for  we  had  learned  that  all  four  of  the  men  were  very 
sharp  and  well  calculated  to  carry  on  the  murderous  business  in 
which  they  were  engaged.  One  of  them  whom  we  supposed  to  be 
the  leader,  had  the  same  rare  faculty  that  Etohautee  has  of 
going  to  and  from  a  place  while  you  are  watching  it  without 
being  seen. 

''They  do  this  by  sliding  on  the  ground  just  like  a  snake,  and 
to  discover  one  you  must  watch  for  a  snake.  This  is  not  only  a 
rare  faculty,  but  to  him  who  uses  it,  is  the  most  advantageous  ac- 
quirement known  to  the  Indian  race.  Where  one  or  more  is  known 
at  all,  he  is  called  *a  sythyr'  or  crawler.  Etohautee  and  his  son, 
Tata,  are  the  only  sythrys  in  this  part  of  the  country,  though  all 
of  them  are  very  careful  to  keep  this  gift  a  profound  secret, 
which  enables  them  to  be  still  more  useful  to  themselves  and  their 
friends.  You  may  now  understand  how  Tata  and  his  father  can 
appear  before  you  at  night  as  if  they  had  come  out  of  the 
ground  at  your  feet,  and  be  thankful  that  they  are  your  friends. 
Perhaps  I  should  not  have  told  you  of  these  sythyrs ;  but  I  have 
done  so  as  a  friend,  and  you  will  not  give  me  away. 

"It  is  something  of  a  wonder  that  the  crawler  leader  did  not 
give  us  more  trouble,  and  doubtless  would  have  done  so  if  we  had 
not  had  a  crawler  ourselves. 

"One  dark,  moonless  night  when  I  and  most  of  my  men  were 
at  or  near  Adabor  it  so  happened  that  the  sythyrs  of  both  parties 
passed  near  each  other.    Fortunately  the  stranger  did  not  discover 

157 


my  brother  who,  after  waiting  a  little,  turned  and  followed  him 
to  the  large  rock  a  few  steps  above  the  shoals.  There  he  was  soon 
joined  by  three  others,  and  there,  after  a  hard  struggle  to  take 
them  alive,  all  four  were  captured  and  securely  bound.  They 
proved  to  be  the  men  who  were  sent  to  murder  my  darling  little 
Banna.  That  was  enough !  Just  at  sunrise  on  the  following 
morning  the  four  men  were  hurled,  full  length,  into  the  boiling 
mud  of  Nodoroc. " 

The  speaker  paused  for  breath  to  give  more  force  to  the  ve- 
hement words  that  began  to  snap  from  his  quivering  lips.  Point- 
ing his  long,  bony  finger  towards  the  smoke  he  continued  fiercely : 

"See!  See!  Yonder,  where  the  blue  blazes  are  chasing  each  oth- 
er for  a  moment,  then  instantly  disappear  and  come  again  and 
again  in  quick  succession,  is  where  we  threw  them.  And  Umau- 
sauga  was  avenged  in  part.  Nenathemahola  was  my  mother's 
brother — a  full  Muscogee.  Hence  the  influence  of  that  tribe  to 
place  him  in  authority;  but  it  did  not  do  him  much  good.  A  few 
moons  after  his  four  emissaries  disappeared,  he  also  failed  to  re- 
port, and  Banna  was  beyond  his  reach.  In  a  council  of  head  men 
called  for  the  purpose,  I  transferred  all  my  claims  to  Eltomura. 
I  am  to  act  as  her  head  man  in  time  of  war.  Since  Banna  is  now 
in  other  hands  than  mine,  I  hold  myself  in  readiness  to  fly  to  her 
assistance  when  necessary.    Again  Umausauga  is  done." 

The  day  was  now  far  spent,  and  two  and  two  in  solemn  proces- 
sion, the  party  hastened  to  Talasee.  Pages  of  unwritten  history 
had  been  read  that  day,  and  the  illustrations  were  so  vivid  that 
every  feature  was  deeply  engraven  on  the  minds  of  all.  A  ghostly 
night  followed  and  through  its  darkness  restless  sleep  and  fitful 
dreams  alternate  while  now  and  then  flickering  blazes  of  fire 
played  hide  and  seek  over  the  walls. 

Note:  For  the  benefit  of  the  young  reader,  the  Editor  wishes  to  direct 
the  attention  to  the  great  change  in  old  Umausauga  in  the  few  years  that 
he  has  been  associated  with  the  white  people.  When  they  found  him  on 
the  banks  of  the  river  at  Talasee,  he  firmly  believed  that  Nodoroc  was 
really  hell;  and  that  the  "Wog"  was  the  Evil  One.  But  now  he  sees  it  in 
a  different  light.  He  is  getting  away  from  superstition  and  waking  to  the 
marvelous  light  of  the  Son  of  God.     "Ouska!     Chouska!     Loah!" 

15« 


As  the  foregoing  description  of  the  Red  Man's  place  of  torment 
is  the  only  leading  feature  of  this  narrative  whose  history  can  be 
continued,  we  venture  to  leave  early  life  long  enough  to  give  an 
outline  account  of  the  curious  place  up  to  the  present  time. 

That  Nodoroc  was  a  mud  volcano  like  those  which  still  exist 
in  various  parts  of  the  world,  particularly  in  British  Burma,  there 
is  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  those  Avho  are  familiar  with  its  history 
of  little  more  than  one  hundred  years  ago,  and  with  the  history 
of  similar  volcanoes  which  still  contain  boiling  mud  from  which 
issue  fumes  of  fire  and  black  smoke. 

The  writer  knows  nothing  of  the  legends  connected  with  the 
place.    He  gives  them  as  they  were  given  to  him. 

Even  to  this  day  Nodoroc  is  a  curiosity.  It  is  situated  three 
and  one-half  miles  east  of  AVinder  on  the  plantation  of  John  L. 
Harris,  a  substantial  citizen  of  that  progressive  city.  We  have 
heard  something  of  its  history  for  nearly  two  generations  before 
the  country  was  first  settled  by  the  whites ;  have  seen  its  condi- 
tion when  visited  by  highly  intelligent  parties  in  1794,  and  will 
now  give  a  brief  outline  of  its  history  from  the  visit  of  Umausauga 
and  his  party  to  the  present  day. 

For  many  years  after  but  little  attention  was  given  the  volcano. 
In  fact,  the  Indians  kept  away  from  Beadland,  except  when  on 
their  war  expeditions;  and  the  whites  were  too  busy  with  clearing 
the  forest  and  fighting  the  red  man  to  trouble  with  such  things. 

This  place  became,  apparently,  nothing  but  a  gloomy  swamp. 
Those  that  saw  the  smoke  rising  from  the  hot  mud  thought  it 
only  fog.  Years  passed;  and  after  the  white  man  began  to  come 
into  Beadland  from  different  counties  of  Georgia ;  and  from  other 
states,  even,  settlements  were  made  at  different  places. 

Mr.  John  Gossett  lived  nearest  the  mudhole,  as  it  was  called. 
He  cleared  a  large  field  that  almost  surrounded  Nodoroc.  One 
morning  when  he  and  his  good  wife  were  in  the  field  they  noticed 
an  unusual  amount  of  fog  (or  what  they  supposed  was  fog)  hang- 
ing over  the  swamp.  As  the  sun  rose  higher  in  the  heavens  they 
noticed  that  it  did  not  dispel  the  supposed  mist.  But  on  the 
other  hand  the  "fog"  grew  denser,  until  about  9  o'clock  Mrs. 
Gossett  saw  a  great  volume  of  smoke  burst  forth  from  the  swamp. 

159 


She  called  her  husband,  who  was  plowing,  to  look.  Both  heard 
a  loud  rumbling  noise,  somewhat  like  that  of  distant  thunder.  Mr. 
Gossett's  horse  was  frightened  and  tried  to  run,  so  loud  was  the 
noise.  All  at  once,  the  whole  surface  of  the  mud  hole  seemed  to 
rise  up  into  the  air.  The  elements  seemed  to  be  filled  with  hot 
mud. 

It  appeared  to  rise  so  high  and  the  air  was  so  full  of  the  small 
particles  that  it  darkened  the  sun  for  a  few  moments.  Then  came 
the  hot  stuff  back  to  the  earth,  falling  all  around  Gossett  and  his 
Mife,  some  striking  them  bespattering  their  clothing  but  doing 
them  no  damage,  as  the  little  particles  of  mud  were  too  small. 

After  this  eruption  old  Nodoroc  seemed  to  settle  down  several 
feet  and  to  cool  off.  In  a  few  years  it  was  perfectly  cold  and  was 
known  the  country  round  as  one  of  the  worst  of  "cow  mires." 

Then  the  seeds  of  vegetation  began  to  find  their  way  to  the  rich 
mud.  A  stunted  growth  was  covering  the  whole  surface,  though 
it  was  quite  dangerous  to  venture  on  to  it.  A  number  of  years 
later  it  was  estimated  that  more  cattle  had  been  lost  in  the  swamp 
during  that  period  than  was  ever  in  the  settlement  at  any  one 
time.  This  led  to  the  necessity  of  fencing  the  swamp  which  was 
continued  until  the  coming  of  the  stock  law. 

Finally,  old  Nodoroc  became  the  property  of  John  L.  Harris, 
who,  always  calm  and  calculating,  determined  to  turn  the  old 
time  horror  into  practical  use.  Accordingly,  by  dint  of  much 
hard  work,  skill,  and  a  determination  to  succeed,  he  drained  it 
sufficiently  well  to  allow  cultivation  wnth  the  hoe.  It  produced 
first-class  corn  which  Mr.  Harris  was  careful  to  carry  to  solid 
ground  in  baskets.  In  the  summer  of  the  second  year  after  the 
swamp  was  drained,  the  writer  walked  through  the  growing  corn 
when  it  was  from  ten  to  twelve  feet  high,  and  the  tops  shook  to 
the  tread  of  his  feet  as  far  as  the  corn  could  be  seen. 

The  ditches  were  ''planked"  on  the  sides  with  stays  between, 
to  keep  the  soft  mud  in  place,  and  it  was  curious  to  see  pure, 
clear  water  running  along  them,  as  in  comparatively  recent  times 
no  water  at  all  was  running  there. 

Mr.  Harris  continued  to  work  his  newly  drained  swamp  with 
the  hoe  for  several  crops,  but  of  recent  years  has  been  cultivating 

160 


it  with  horse  and  plow,  and  always  with  highly  satisfactory 
results. 

Bones  and  horns  of  animals,  doubtless  those  that  last  disap- 
peared, are  ploughed  up  occasionally. 

The  whole  area,  consisting  of  about  five  acres,  is  now  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation,  but  the  surface  has  been  gradually  sinking 
since  it  was  first  drained. 

What  other,  if  any,  metamorphosis  takes  place  in  the  ancient 
Nodoroc  is  unknown ;  but  it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  its  sub- 
terranean fires  were  extinguished  by  the  eruption  witnessed  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Gossett. 

Note:  Old  "Nodoroc"  is  still  owned  by  Mr.  John  L.  Harris.  The  Editor 
visited  the  place  both  in  1913  and  1914.  The  soil  is  a  blue-black  in  color, 
very  porous  and  is  about  four  to  five  feet  deep,  that  is  the  hard  sand  pan 
that  has  formed  is  that  depth  below  the  surface.  In  looking  down  at  the 
"bottom,"  from  the  surrounding  hills,  which  are  not  high,  it  has  the  ap- 
pearance of  five  acres  of  land  covered  with  coal  dust.  Nodoroc  is  about 
one-half  mile  east  of  Chapel  Church  and  one-fourth  mile  south  of  the 
S.  A.  L.  E.  K.  on  the  head  waters  of  Barber's  Creek. — Ed. 


J61 


CHAPTER  X. 
Trouble  at  Snodon  and  the  Arrival  of  More  Emigrants. 

Early  one  morning  some  days  after  the  return  from  Nodoroc 
to  Talasee,  Ocean  Seupeen  arrived  at  Fort  Strong,  with  a  written 
message  from  his  mother,  stating  that  Mera  was  dangerously  ill, 
and  that  the  sutfering  girl  wanted  to  see  Helen  Draper  before 
she  died. 

Dr.  Singleton  w^as  at  onee  summoned,  and  in  a  short  time  Miss 
Draper,  though  warned  of  the  danger  of  being  kidnapped,  was  on 
her  way  home  with  a  well-appointed  escort  in  three  divisions: 
First  went  the  invaluable  scout,  Tata  Nyxter,  some  distance  in 
advance;  second,  Helen  Draper,  Ocean  Seupeen  and  Dr.  Single- 
ton; third,  and  some  distance  in  the  rear,  which  was  always  the 
point  of  Indian  'attack,  went  Abe  Trent,  Joe  Lavender  and  Ed 
Damron,  a  formidable  trio,  if  any  fighting  were  to  be  done. 

Though  a  few  strange  natives  were  passed  at  Calamit,  the 
party,  being  well  mounted  and  heavily  armed,  reached  the 
Charmed  Circle  in  due  time  without  being  molested. 

Without  delay  Helen  and  Dr.  Singleton  visited  the  humble 
home  of  Mera,  whom  they  found  dangerously  sick  with  fever, 
and  unconscious.  In  piteous  tones  she  often  exclaimed  in  wild 
delirium:  "0  Helen!  Helen!  Where  is  my  darling  Helen?  Will 
she — will  Helen  never  come?" 

Helen  kissed  her  burning  cheeks  and  bathed  them  with  her 
freely  flowing  tears,  while  Dr.  Singleton  sat  anxiously  at  her  side 
counting  her  pulse  and  looking  into  her  great,  wide-open  black 
eyes  over  which  the  chilly  film  of  death  seemed  to  be  gathering. 
At  last  Dr.  Singleton,  giving  Helen  a  furtive  glance  and  shaking 
his  head,  said:  "There  is  little  hope;  but  we  must  do  something. 
Warm  water,  please,  quick  as  possible!" 

It  was  a  singular  process,  and  one  which  a  modern  physician 
would  probably  discard;  but  when  the  patient's  feet  had  been 
bathed  and  vigorously  rubbed  in  warm  water,  and  an  occasional 
application  of  cold  water  had  been  gently  applied  to  her  brow  and 

162 


the  back  of  her  neck  for  fully  two  hours,  she  became  quiet, 
breathed  easier,  and  her  eyes  began  to  close  very  slowly.  In  the 
meantime,  medicine  had  been  administered,  but  under  such  diffi- 
culties that  little  was  really  taken. 

"If,"  said  the  doctor,  "her  eyes  are  closed  by  morning  and 
she  is  still  breathing  regularly  as  now,  the  crisis  will  be  passed. 
Close  attention,  however,  is  the  price  of  life.  Here,  with  full 
written  directions,  are  the  necessary  medicines.  If  needed  during 
the  night,  Miss  Draper  will  notify  me  by  the  whippoorwill  call 
twice  repeated." 

It  was  then  after  sundown,  and  the  doctor,  shouldering  his 
trusty  rifle,  joined  the  men  who  were  stationed  at  some  distance 
around  the  house  at  regular  intervals. 

The  guard  was  composed  of  Abe  Trent,  Joe  Lavender,  Ed 
Damron,  Ocean  Seupeen,  Alonzo  Draper,  Herman  Scupeen, 
Hooehleohoopah,  Tata  Nyxter  and  Dr.  Singleton.  The  nurses, 
inside  were  Nyrulyn,  the  sick  girl's  mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Draper, 
Helen  Draper,  and  Mrs.  Annette  Scupeen.  These  and  other  partic- 
ulars are  given  to  show  the  difference  between  then  and  now,  and 
also  the  unselfish  devotion  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  country 
to  their  friends. 

Though  the  nurses  were  fully  aware  of  the  heroic  character  of 
the  guard  around  them ;  and  though  they  had  confidence  in  their 
own  ability  to  defend  themselves,  and  in  Lion,  a  host  in  himself, 
that  was  lying  at  the  feet  of  his  young  mistress,  they  were  restless 
and  uneasy,  because  somehow  all  were  impressed  with  the  belief 
that  another  effort  would  be  made  during  the  night  to  capture 
their  darling  Helen  and  hold  her  as  hostage  until  the  whites  left 
the  country.  While  none  doubted  the  result  for  a  moment,  still 
their  anxiety  increased  with  passing  hours. 

The  wigwam  was  covered  with  several  layers  of  poplar  bark  at 
the  apex  of  which  was  an  opening  large  enough  to  admit  the  body 
of  an  ordinary  Indian.  The  temporary  covering  of  the  opening 
being  removed,  Nyrulyn  and  Helen  placed  themselves  near  it 
alternately,  and  constantly  listened  for  any  disturbance  made 
on  the  outside. 

163 


It  was  far  into  the  night.  Nyrulyn,  who  was  a  good  reader  of 
the  stars,  said  it  was  past  midnight.  Mera,  who  had  been  resting 
comparatively  well,  became  restless  with  the  turning  hour,  and 
again  talked  in  wild  delirium,  but  not  so  violently  as  before.  She 
continued  to  call  for  Helen,  alluded  to  Ocean  Scupeen  in  some 
unknown  connection  and  challenged  Tata  Nyxter  for  a  foot  race. 
A  soothing  portion  being  given,  she  became  quiet,  by  and  by, 
partially  closed  her  eyes  and  seemed  to  sleep  at  short  intervals 
peacefully.  From  the  doctor's  standpoint  this  was  taken  as  a 
good  omen,  and  the  nurses  looked  at  each  other  and  smiled 
gladly. 

It  wants  some  two  hours  to  daybreak.  Helen  Draper  ventures, 
for  a  moment,  to  raise  her  head  above  the  house  top.  A  faint 
gleam  of  light  opens  the  eastern  horizon,  the  last  quarter  moon 
is  rising.  Silence  reigns  supreme.  But,  hark !  To-hoo-to-hoo-hoo-o ! 
breaks  upon  the  still  night  air !  What  can  it  mean  ?  It  is  not  the 
hooting  of  an  owl.  That  last  "oo-o"  is  never  given  by  the  solemn 
night  bird. 

"It  is  Tata  Nyxter 's  danger  signal,"  whispers  Helen  who  is  now 
on  duty.  "But,"  she  continued,  "the  hooting  seems  strangely 
distant.  What  can  the  danger  be?  No  gun  has  been  fired.  That 
is  strange.  AVith  ten  such  men  as  I  know  are  around  us,  and  with 
four  such  women  as  are  present,  with  Lion  to  lead  the  charge,  I 
fear  nothing  that  is  likely  to  come  against  us.  Comrades,  see 
that  your  guns  and  sabres  are  ready,  and  when  necessary  follow 
me  and  Lion!" 

The  heroine 's  address  was  received  with  the  waving  of  handker- 
chiefs, and  Nyrulyn,  seizing  her  well-tried  bow  and  arrows,  stood 
at  the  door,  as  much  as  to  say — "No,  dear  Helen,  you  are  too 
precious  to  my  darling  Mera  to  receive  the  first  shock  of  battle. 
Her  mother  will  do  that."  Again  the  sick  girl  is  moaning  and 
rolling  on  her  lowly  bed  of  pain,  and  Helen,  crying  like  a  stricken 
child  mutters: 

"Poor  Mera,  you  can  not  answer  signals  as  you  have  so  bravely 
done  on  former  occasions,  nor  can  your  now  restless  feet  carry, 
as  a  bird  on  the  wing,  a  message  to  your  friends  as  they  once 
did!" 

164 


All  are  intently  listening  for  the  report  of  fire  arms,  when 
suddenly,  "to-hoo-o-o,"  long  drawn  out,  reaches  the  wide-open 
ears  of  the  anxious  nurses. 

"That  means  the  danger  is  over,"  exclaimed  Helen  joyfully, 
and  placing  her  weapons  by  Lion,  she  began  to  chase  Mera's 
brow  gently  saying,  "Poor  Mera!  darling  Mera,  Banna  is  con- 
stantly praying  for  your  recovery  and  I  have  faith  to  believe 
you'll  soon  get  well." 

Thus  the  anxious  nurses  kept  up  their  night-long  vigil  until 
break  of  day  when  Dr.  Singleton  returned  to  the  wigwam.  See- 
ing that  his  patient's  eyes  were  closed  he  extended  his  open  hands 
and  said:  "Thank  God!  With  Miss  Draper  for  a  nurse  the 
danger  is  over.  While  her  hands  sometimes  seemed  to  be  moved 
by  iron  nerves.  I  notice  that  their  touch  upon  the  burning  fevered 
brow  is  as  soft  and  gentle  as  the  whisper  of  an  angel." 

"You  are  right,  doctor,  but,"  whispered  Mrs.  Scupeen,  "why 
was  the  danger  signal  given  last  night?" 

Silently  going  outside  the  wigwam,  Dr.  Singleton  gave  the  fol- 
lowing account  of  the  disturbance  of  the  night : 

"At  an  early  hour  the  faithful  Tata  Nyxter  was  sent  out  to  re- 
connoiter  the  surrounding  country.  While  watching  the  main 
pathway  that  leads  near  the  rock  pillar,  he  saw  three  Indians 
enter  the  archway  and  seat  themselves  as  if  to  rest.  They  were 
soon  joined  by  another  man  who,  contrary  to  all  Indian  usage, 
walked  in  a  stooping  posture.  So  sharp  was  the  boy's  observa- 
tion that  he  recognized  the  three  men  who  first  came  as  the  same 
that  had  formerly  made  an  effort  to  kidnap  Miss  Helen.  The 
fourth  was  a  stranger,  and  evidently  a  leader  in  some  conspiracy. 
Silently,  'worming'  himself  near  the  pillar,  the  boy  learned  that 
the  stoop-shouldered  man  had  located  Miss  Draper,  and  reported 
that  only  one  man  was  with  her,  that  the  sick  girl's  father  was 
away  from  home,  and  just  at  moon  up  all  four  should  rush  into 
the  wigwam  together,  and  bear  the  girl  away  before  any  one 
could  come  to  her  relief. 

"The  boy  at  once  brought  us  the  news  and  gave  the  warning 
signal  that  you  heard.  Then  we  made  the  discovery  that  the  boy 
w^as  a  ventriloquist.     Though  he  stood  near  it  was  difficult  for 

165 


me  to  believe  that  hooting  was  not  made  by  an  owl  on  some  lofty 
tree-top  beyond  the  rocks  to  the  south  of  Nere  Nara. 

"Every  man  constituted  himself  a  vigilant  watchman  and  as 
the  upper  horn  of  the  moon  rose  above  the  horizon,  four  men, 
in  single  file,  were  seen  creeping  on  all  fours  along  the  path  that 
leads  from  the  south.  It  was  a  small  matter  to  capture  them,  and 
they  are  now  in  close  custody.  Immediately  the  hooting  boy 
went  to  the  rear  and  gave  the  second  signal.  The  captives  turned 
and  listened  in  the  direction  where  the  hooting  seemed  to  be,  and 
the  bent-shouldered  man  said  angrily :  '  Osh  sempa  uto  tach  ebrus ' 
— the  horrid  owl  is  laughing  at  us ! 

"It  is  a  little  singular  that  the  Creek  language  has  no  profane 
word;  otherwise  the  crooked  Indian  would  have  used  it,  for  he 
was  desperately  mad.  When  Abe  Trent  began  to  disarm  him, 
the  fellow  jerked  his  tomahawk  back;  whereupon  Abe  hurled 
him  to  the  ground  with  such  force  that  we  thought  him  dead  for 
a  while.  A  break  was  expected;  but  the  'click'  of  several  guns 
soon  restored  order.  Nothing  on  earth  seems  so  dreadful  to  an 
Indian  as  the  sharp  crack  of  the  white  man's  rifle.  He  can  not 
understand  it." 

Nyrulyn,  w^ho  had  remained  by  her  sick  daughter,  motioned 
Helen  Draper  to  come  in,  and  Dr.  Singleton  followed.  They 
found  Mera  awake  and  her  mind  partially  restored;  but  physi- 
cally so  weak  that  she  could  not  raise  her  head  to  greet  the 
friend  whom  she  loved  so  well.  The  meeting  was  a  happy  one, 
and  Helen's  presence  doubtless  had  much  to  do  with  the  sick 
girl's  recovery. 

When  confronted  in  daylight,  the  prisoners,  as  usual,  assumed 
a  haughty  attitude  and  refused  to  make  any  explanation  what- 
ever of  their  purposes;  bvit  when  Abe  Trent,  in  a  spirit  of  mis- 
chief, pointed  to  the  east  and  Avhispered  "Nodoroc"  in  their  ears, 
they  changed  their  demeanor,  and  offered  allegiance  to  the  whites 
as  the  price  of  their  liberty. 

With  the  concurrence  of  the  Talasee  Colony  they  were  released 
on  the  following  day. 

Through  Etohautee,  it  was  found  that  the  stoop-shouldered 
Indian  was  the  ring  leader  of  the  plot  to  capture  Helen  Draper 

166 


and  hold  her  as  a  hostage  until  the  white  settlers  left  the  country, 
and  that  his  report  concerning  Miss  Draper's  defenseless  condition 
was  not  based  on  what  he  knew  himself,  but  on  information  given 
by  another  Indian  who  wished  to  play  him  a  trick.  He  turned 
out  to  be  Siloquot  of  Haitauthuga,  and  that  he  was  not  stoop- 
shouldered;  but  for  some  reason  had  assumed  this  position  as  a 
sort  of  disguise.  His  companions  were  Elitoboy,  Camastooka  and 
Novuarka  who  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Yargo. 

About  this  time  the  long-expected  train  of  emigrants  arrived. 
It  consisted  of  eleven  men,  nine  women  and  seven  children — 
twenty-seven  in  all.  It  was  led  by  Robert  Alston,  father  of 
Alexis  Alston*  of  Pea  Ridge.  The  Talasee  Colony  having  relin- 
quished all  claim  to  Beadland,  the  newcomers  settled  in  various 
parts  of  that  territory.  Mr.  Alston  and  three  other  families  re- 
mained at  Snodon.  He  built  a  double  log  cabin  near  Nere  Nara,  the 
rock  pillar.  Having  been  told  something  of  the  history  of  that  cu- 
rious mausoleum,  one  of  the  first  acts  of  his  wife,  Mrs.  Thurza  Al- 
ston was  to  drape  the  pillar  with  festoons  of  wild  flowers.  This  is 
equivalent  to  writing  a  long  chapter  in  the  history  of  a  good 
woman.  When  Umausauga  heard  of  this  token  of  respect  for 
his  lost  Nere  Nara  and  had  learned  its  significance  from  Banna 
and  Marzee  Marcum,  he  went  the  same  night  to  Snodon  and 
prostrated  himself  at  Mrs.  Alston's  feet.  So  much  for  the  senti- 
ment of  a  christianized  heathen.  At  the  same  time  the  Alstons 
and  their  adherents  gained  a  powerful  friend  by  one  simple  but 
beautiful  deed. 

In  the  meantime  Mera  continued  to  improve  slowly.  Sleeping 
a  little  now  and  then  while  in  her  seat,  Helen  Draper  remained 
at  her  side  almost  constantly  for  ten  long  days  and  as  many 
weary  nights.  Every  movement  was  carefully  noted  and  every 
need  of  the  sick  girl  was  lovingly  supplied  by  the  faithful  nurse 
for  three  weeks,  when  she  was  carried  in  the  willing  arms  of 
Ocean  Scupeen  to  Helen's  own  home  for  further  attention. 

During  this  period  it  was  curious  to  notice  that  when  Helen  was 
absent  Lion  took  her  place  by  Mera,  and  allowed  no  stranger  to 

*Read  first  chapter  of  "Cell  No.  21"  in  this  work.— Ed. 

167 


come  near.  To  gratify  his  desire  to  serve  the  girl,  he  carried 
dinner  to  her  in  a  little  basket,  nor  did  he  permit  any  one 
else  to  take  it  from  him.  On  one  occasion  when  Mera  and  Lion 
only  were  in  the  house,  a  long  gaunt  wolf  trotted  to  the  door  and 
began  to  sniff  the  inside  air.  Quick  as  thought  the  dog  jumped 
upon  the  intruder,  and  a  battle  royal  followed.  His  wolfship 
was  no  mean  antagonist ;  but  when  the  family  reached  the  house, 
his  throat  was  torn  wide  open  and  the  dog  was  sitting  near  Mera 
as  if  nothing  vmusual  had  happened. 

To  meet  such  emergencies  as  this,  which  were  by  no  means  un- 
common, fire  arms  and  a  deadly  knife  were  always  within  easy 
reach. 

Though  still  feeble,  the  girl,  even  without  her  powerful  ally, 
the  dog,  was  well  prepared  and  certainly  knew  how  to  defend 
herself. 

Since  the  capture  of  the  conspirators  and  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Alston  and  his  companions  it  was  thought  that  no  further  effort 
would  be  made  on  Helen  Draper's  liberty;  but  the  vigilance  of 
herself  and  friends  was  not  abated  for  an  hour.  The  cunning 
and  fleet-footed  Tata  Nyxter,  and  the  bold,  dashing  Ocean  Scu- 
peen,  ranged  the  country  in  all  directions;  while  the  dreaded 
trio,  Abe  Trent,  Joe  Lavender  and  Ed  Damron  were  within  easy 
reach. 

The  surveillance  continued  until  Mera  was  strong  enough  to  be 
taken  to  Fort  Strong,  where  in  the  sunshine  of  her  still  faithful 
nurse  as  well  as  in  that  of  other  devoted  friends  there,  she  soon 
fully  recovered  her  health.  To  no  one  was  this  more  pleasing 
than  to  Dr.  Singleton  who,  next  to  Helen,  had  been  Mera's  most 
faithful  attendant.  He  was  a  young  man  of  fine  personal  ap- 
pearance and  pleasing  manners. 

At  any  time  Mera  was  a  pretty  girl ;  but  now  that  she  was  ar- 
rayed in  an  elegant  dress,  made  by  the  deft  fingers  of  Letty 
Moore,  and  her  magnificent  supply  of  jet  black  hair  had  been 
dressed  by  the  expert  hands  of  Marzee  Marcum,  she  was  still 
more  beautiful. 

If,  when  the  doctor  thought  his  patient  near  death  his  atten- 
tions were  very  close,  it  was  plain  enough  that  now  she  was  in 

168 


blooming  health,  they  were  still  closer  and  even  more  necessary 
for  his  own  happiness  than  before.  So  the  people  began  to  talk 
and  say 

"Dr.  Singleton  loves  the  dreamy-eyed  Indian  girl." 

The  remainder  of  the  Blue  Bird's  stay  at  Fort  Strong  was  de- 
voted to  daily  rifle  practice  and  to  horseback  riding  under  the 
efficient  guidance  of  Helen  Draper.  At  the  end  of  four  weeks  she 
was  almost  equal  to  her  teacher  except  in  loading  while  on  the 
run.  When  Mera  returned  home  she  was  accompanied  by  Dr. 
Singleton  and  Eev.  James  Tinsley. 

The  purpose  of  the  former  was  not  professional,  but  a  matter 
of  love  and  the  mission  of  the  latter  was  to  confer  with  Nyrulyn 
about  the  education  of  her  interesting  daughter,  it  being  cus- 
tomary for  mothers  to  dispose  of  their  daughters  and  fathers  of 
their  sons.  Both  doctor  and  preacher  were  agreeably  surprised 
to  find  the  mother  almost  as  interesting  and  handsome  as  the 
daughter.  The  truth  was,  both  she  and  her  ill-fated  sister  Nere 
Nara,  had  been  brought  up  in  Savannah,  where,  being  favorites 
in  the  family  of  Edward  Telfair,  afterwards  Governor  of  Geor- 
gia, they  learned  to  speak  English  with  tolerable  facility. 

They  were  said  to  be  the  lineal  descendants  of  Lachlan  Mc- 
Gillivray,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  the  granddaughter  of  Schey ; 
mother  of  the  famous  Gen.  Alexander  McGillivray,*  and  spoken 
of  by  the  historians  of  the  time  as  the  daughter  of  a  full- 
blooded  Creek  woman  of  high  rank  in  her  nation,  and  of  ('apt. 
Marchance  of  the  French  army,  and  that  at  the  time  of  her  mar- 
riage she  was  "a  maiden  of  sixteen,  cheerful  in  countenance,  be- 
witching in  looks,  and  graceful  in  form." 

Such  was  Schey,  the  grandmother  of  Nyrulyn  and  great-grand- 
mother of  Mera. 

So,  after  all,  it  turns  out  that  ''the  pretty  Blue  Bird  Indian 
girl,"  as  she  was  commonly  called,  was  of  Scotch-French-Indian 
descent,  belonged  to  a  family  "of  high  rank  in  her  nation,"  and 
was  really  a  member  of  the  Lower  Creek  Nation. 

♦White's  "Historical  Collection  of  Georgia,"  P.  154.— Ed. 

169 


It  was  long  after  this  before  Dr.  George  Singleton  knew  any- 
thing of  Mera's  ancestors.  He  loved  her  for  herself  as  Josiah 
Strong  had  loved  Banna  the  Beautiful,  and  who  by  common  con- 
sent was  known,  after  her  marriage,  as  "Banna  the  Good." 

Finding  Nyrulyn  so  far  superior  in  intelligence  and  manners  to 
anything  anticipated,  Mr.  Tinsley  suggested  that  both  mother 
and  daughter  go  through  a  course  of  instruction  at  Fort  Strong 
in  the  early  future.  This  proposition  brought  Hoochleohoopah,  a 
powerful  but  well-disposed  man,  into  the  consultation.  He  op- 
posed the  measure  at  first,  but  finally  consented  for  both  his  wife 
and  daughter  to  accept  the  preacher's  proposition  after  he  re- 
turned from  an  extended  hunt  for  which  he  was  then  preparing. 

Being  highly  elated  with  his  success,  Mr.  Tinsley  extended  his 
hand  and  bade  farewell  to  the  family;  but  when  Dr.  Singleton 
offered  his  hand  Nyrulyn  refused  to  take  it  until  she  had  paid  him 
for  services  rendered  to  her  sick  child.  The  doctor  informed  her 
that  Miss  Draper  had  offered  to  pay  him,  but  that  he  would  not 
under  any  circumstances  receive  pay  for  what  he  had  done  for 
her  sick  daughter.  This  seemed  to  puzzle  the  w^oman  and  after 
thinking  awhile  she  asked : 

"Have  you  wife?" 

"No;  but  I  want  one,"  answered  the  doctor  blushing  to  the 
crown  of  his  head. 

"You  have  no  pay,  then  you  take  present  from  Nyrulyn." 

' '  Yes,  with  all  my  heart. ' ' 

Turning,  she  went  to  an  obsecure  corner  of  the  wigwam  and 
returned  with  a  small  bundle  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  beautifully 
woven  grass  cloth,  and  placing  it  in  an  elegant  Lapsidalian  basket, 
said  : 

"Here,  take  this.  Doctor  no  use  for  it.  AVhen  you  wife  get, 
to  her  give  it  in  Nyrulyn 's  name.  A  belt  it  is  of  mine  and  Mera's 
hair;  it  is  made  of  Nyrulyn 's  hair,  the  two-strand  pieces  are  made; 
of  Mera's  hair  are  made  the  three-strand  pieces.  The  beads  the 
flowers  made,  were  to  me  given  by  Banna  the  Beautiful.  Let  her 
it  open  when  you  home  get.  The  Great  Spirit  the  doctor  bless  for 
his  goodness  to  Mera." 

170 


So  saying  she  extended  her  hand.  It  was  cordially  taken,  and 
after  a  fervent  God  bless  you,  the  two  surprised  men  rode  away 
silently  but  thoughtfully. 

"Say,  Mr.  Tinsley,  I  am  the  biggest  fool  that  ever  rode  the 
Okoloco  trail,"  said  Dr.  Singleton  when  well  on  his  homeward 
journey. 

"Why  do  you  think  so?"  asked  Tinsley. 

"Because  I  had  such  a  splendid  opportunity  to  ask  for  Mera," 
answered  the  doctor  peering  into  his  pretty  basket.  "Then  why 
did  you  fail  to  do  so?" 

"I  did  not  know  that  the  Blue  Bird  was  willing  to  be  caught. 
"What  a  fool  I  was  not  to  ask  her  to  be  my  wife  as  we  rode  along 
here  this  morning.  I  never  spoke  a  word  of  love  to  the  girl  in  my 
life.  I'll  never  have  such  an  opportunity  again  with  either  her- 
self or  mother." 

"You  may  easily  make  one;  but  I  have  noticed  that  you  are 
shy  in  the  presence  of  ladies  and  think  you  would  feel  more  at 
home  while  cutting  off  a  man's  leg  or  pulling  three  or  four  of  his 
molars  than  in  the  presence  of  the  girl  you  love.  Remember, 
'Faint  heart  never  won  fair  ladie!'  " 

"Perhaps  you  are  right;  but  by  all  the  moons  of  Jupiter,  I'll 
never  let  another  good  opportunity  pass  without  knowing  the 
best  or  the  worst  of  the  whole  matter,"  answered  the  doctor 
seriously  as  he  again  peeped  into  his  basket. 

Reaching  home.  Dr.  Singleton,  after  inviting  all  present  to  go 
with  him,  hastened  to  his  rough  pine-pole  oiSce,  where  in  a 
husky  voice,  he  asked  Banna  to  unwrap  the  package  for  him. 

When  open  she  held  up  a  belt  of  such  exquisite  workmanship 
that  all  were  lost  in  admiration  of  its  beauty.  It  was  nearly  four 
inches  wide,  and  made  of  alternate  plaits  of  two  or  three  strands 
of  jet  black  hair  twined  together  with  consummate  skill.  Over 
the  whole  was  wrought  in  white,  red  and  blue  bead-work,  flowers 
in  almost  exact  imitation  of  ox-eye  daisies  and  dainty  little 
forget-me-nots.  The  center  was  designated  by  a  half  drawn  bow 
with  an  arrow  lying  at  sharp  angles  across  the  bar.     The  fasten- 

171 


ings  at  the  ends  were  of  bone,  and  in  workmanship  were  in  keep- 
ing with  the  belt  itself. 

When  all  were  through  looking  at  the  elegant  gift,  its  owner 
kissed  it,  and  while  replacing  it  in  the  basket  remarked  thought- 
fully: "Such  an  artist  would  adorn  the  finest  gallery  in  Eu- 
rope." 


172 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Cold  "Winter  and  a  Visit  by  Governor  Matthews — The 
Organization  for  Mutual  Protection. 

It  was  now  January  1795.  Except  the  efforts  made  to  kidnap 
one  of  their  best-loved  citizens,  the  Talasee  Colony  and  the  in- 
habitants of  Beadland  had  been  free  from  any  immediate  danger, 
and  were  eminently  prosperous  and  well  contented. 

They  knew  that  the  Lower  Creeks  were  giving  the  citizens  of 
Bryan,  Liberty,  Mcintosh,  and  other  adjacent  counties  serious 
trouble ;  but  as  the  whites  under  Col.  Josiah  Tatnall,  uncle  of  our 
Josiah  Strong,  and  for  whom  he  was  named,  were  constantly  vic- 
torious, they  had  little  fear  that  the  disturbance  would  reach  so 
far  into  the  wilderness  as  Talasee  and  Snodon.  Nevertheless  they 
whetted  their  knives,  picked  their  flints,  kept  their  powder  dry, 
and  Tata  Nyxter  and  Ocean  Scupeen  patrolled  the  country  day 
and  night.  Anything  that  escaped  the  eyes  of  those  two  boys 
was  hard  to  see,  indeed.  The  people  knew  that  "eternal  vigi- 
lance is  the  price  of  liberty." 

The  winter  was  intensely  cold — colder,  the  oldest  natives  said, 
than  they  had  ever  known  before.  The  ground  had  been  covered 
with  alternate  layers  of  frozen  rain  and  snow  for  six  weeks  with 
no  prospect  of  an  early  change.  Animals  and  birds  became  raven- 
ously hungry.  Panthers  and  wolves,  troublesome  at  any  time, 
were  more  dangerous  than  ever  before.  Hundreds  of  them  were 
shot  in  the  yards  around  the  cabins  during  the  day,  and  at  night 
they  were  kept  at  a  respectful  distance  by  roaring  fires  in  the 
chimneys  and  by  burning  pine  knots  outsides  the  houses.  Some- 
times even  these  precautions  did  not  effect  their  purpose. 

One  night  a  gang  of  wolves  being  made  ravenous  by  smelling 
the  blood  of  a  deer  that  Mr.  Draper  had  dressed  that  day,  broke 
over,  to  them,  the  mysterious  circle,  and  rushing  between  the 
fires,  besieged  the  house  itself. 

Most  of  them  were  shot  through  port  holes  made  for  the  pur- 
pose ;  but  two  bolder  than  the  others,  attacked  the  door.    One  of 

173 


them  tore  away  enough  of  the  shutter  with  his  strong  teeth  to  ad- 
mit its  head,  and  while  struggling  to  get  its  body  through  the 
opening  Lion  tore  its  throat  open — his  favorite  way  of  dealing 
with  an  enemy. 

The  living  wolves  outside  soon  began  to  devour  the  dead  ones, 
and  when  they  came  to  the  one  fast  in  the  door  shutter  they 
pulled  it  away  and  still  another  poked  his  head  through  the 
opening.  Helen,  whose  rifle  had  just  been  discharged,  split  its 
head  open  with  an  axe.  That,  eventually,  ended  the  battle  as 
the  wolves  still  living  being  gorged  with  the  slain,  retired  from 
the  field. 

The  cracking  of  bones,  the  lapping  of  blood,  and  the  fierce 
growls  of  the  monsters  outside  all  intermingled  with  the  sharp 
crack  of  those  rifles  inside  and  one  at  an  unknown  place,  created 
a  horrid  din  that  words  can  not  describe. 

It  was  afterwards  found  that  the  firing  of  the  unknown  rifle 
came  from  the  spreading  branches  of  a  tree  whither  Ocean  Scu- 
peen,  seeing  the  danger  to  which  his  friends  were  exposed,  had, 
at  the  risk  of  his  life,  climbed  to  help  defend  those  he  loved.  At 
a  time  of  great  need  the  boy  did  heroic  service  that  dreadful 
night. 

As  the  body  of  the  large  wolf  whose  head  Helen  cut  open  was 
not  eaten,  he  was  supposed  to  be  the  leader  of  the  pack,  which 
also  helps  to  explain  the  sudden  termination  of  the  attack. 
Had  he  gotten  through  the  door  others  would  have  made  desperate 
efforts  to  follow. 

Such  hunting  droves  of  half-starved  wolves  became  so  common 
that  work  and  travel  were  almost  suspended  and  the  people  were 
compelled  to  give  exclusive  attention  to  their  destruction.  The 
natives  throughout  the  country  suffered  more  than  the  whites  be- 
cause their  means  of  defense  were  not  so  good.  Soon  after  the  at- 
tack on  the  Draper  home  an  Indian,  accompanied  by  his  squaw 
who  was  carrying  her  papoose,  as  native  children  were  called, 
were  followed  by  several  wolves  to  Snodon.  As  dark  came  on 
the  animals  became  bolder  and  pressed  the  natives  so  closely 
they  were  compelled  to  climb  a  tree  to  save  themselves. 

174 


The  weather  was  so  cold  that  the  mother's  numb  fingers  re- 
fused to  obey  her  will,  and  the  child  fell  to  the  ground  where  it 
was  instantly  devoured.  When  relief  reached  them  sometime 
afterwards,  they  were  so  nearly  frozen  they  could  not  walk. 

In  1837,  when  Snodon  was  well  known  as  Jug  Tavern,  a  scrubby 
blackjack  was  pointed  out  by  an  old  native  called  Jolly  Jumper, 
as  the  tree  from  which  the  Indian  child  fell.  It  stood  on  the 
north  side  of  Hog  Mountain  road  opposite  the  present  residence  of 
Mr.  Wiley  Bush  of  Winder. 

From  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  country  to  some- 
time about  the  thirties  of  the  last  century,  Beech  creek,  because  of 
the  dense  canebrakes  which  grew  upon  its  margins,  was  called 
the  panther's  stronghold.  Hence  its  name,  Taurulaboole,  which 
means  ''screaming  panther."  The  excessively  cold  winter  drove 
these  animals  from  the  canebrakes  to  the  hills  where  they  became 
dangerous. 

Early  one  morning  Loyd  Upson,  a  little  boy  whose  father, 
Jabin  Upson,  was  a  newcomer  living  near  Mr.  Draper,  was  seized 
by  a  panther  and  carried  to  the  woods.  Helen  Draper,  hearing  the 
cries  of  the  boy,  took  her  father's  heavy  rifle  and  in  her  usual 
headlong  way,  hastily  pursued  the  animal.  When  within  from 
thirty  to  forty  yards  of  it  she  gave  a  loud  scream.  The  brute, 
doubtless  thinking  that  another  panther  was  following,  turned  to 
investigate  the  matter.  As  it  turned  an  ounce  ball  entered  its 
body  a  little  behind  the  right  shoulder  and  passing  through  im- 
bedded itself  in  an  oak  tree  which  stood  a  few  yards  distant. 
Leaping  high  the  animal  gave  a  dying  scream  which  released  the 
boy  and  they  fell  together  on  the  ground. 

The  boy  scrambled  away  on  his  hands  and  one  leg,  the  other 
being  so  badly  torn  that  he  could  not  use  it.  Such  was  Helen 
Draper,  the  touch  of  whose  hand  had  been  characterized  as  being 
"as  soft  and  gentle  as  the  whisper  of  an  angel."  And  so  it  was 
when  gentleness  was  required. 

"Mother,"  said  the  boy,  after  he  had  been  carried  home,  "she 
wrapped  her  apron  around  my  leg  while  the  smoke  was  slowly 
coming  out  of  the  muzzle  of  her  gun." 

175 


The  boy's  wound  finally  healed,  but  he  was  a  cripple  for  life. 
His  mother  afterwards  made  him  "a-round-about"  coat  of  the 
panther's  skin,  and  one  of  his  greatest  joys  was  to  wear  it  in 
Helen's  presence  and  rest  his  head  upon  her  knee,  while  she 
patted  his  red,  plump  cheek  with  her  "soft  and  gentle  hand." 

In  1813,  when  Capt.  Carnes  was  in  Jefferson,  beating  for  vol- 
unteers to  meet  the  British  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  Loyd  Upson, 
then  a  good-looking  young  man,  was  the  first  to  offer  his  ser- 
vices. 

Being  rejected  because  of  his  lameness,  he  took  a  battered  bul- 
let from  his  pocket,  and  turning  it  with  his  fingers  said  thought- 
fully:  "Perhaps  it  is  for  the  best.  I  intended  to  remould  this 
bullet  and  kill  some  redcoat  with  it.  When  Nancy  Jane  [mean- 
ing his  rifle]  speaks,  she  always  means  death.  As  it  once  saved 
my  life  it  seems,  after  all,  wrong  for  me  to  kill  another  with  it." 

The  disappointed  young  man  returned  the  bullet  to  his  pocket 
and  limped  away  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  Two  years  later  he  was 
accepted  as  a  volunteer  and  did  valiant  service  in  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans.  On  the  8th  of  January  1815,  when  the  battle  was 
raging  all  along  the  lines,  Gen,  Jackson  noticed  a  soldier  several 
steps  in  rear  of  his  command.  He  was  loading  and  shooting  as 
deliberately  as  if  at  a  country  shooting  match.  He  wore  a  broad- 
brimmed  wool  hat,  and  every  time  he  took  aim  he  turned  up  the 
front  part  of  the  brim,  and  a  man  fell.  When  this  had  been  re- 
peated several  times,  Jackson,  overcome  with  admiration,  ap- 
proached the  soldier  and  asked:  "My  brave  boy,  what  are  you 
doing  here  by  yourself?" 

"Well,  you  see.  General"  was  the  answer,  "I  am  lame  and  can 
not  keep  up  with  the  boys.  So  I  am  out  here  fighting  on  my  own 
hook."    "What  is  your  name  and  where  from?" 

"Loyd  Upson  of  Georgia,  sir,  and  it's  Nancy  Jane  that  is 
speaking  to  the  fellows  over  yonder." 

"Tell  her  to  speak  on,"  said  Jackson  as  he  himself  plunged  into 
the  fight. 

The  foregoing  incidents  are  given,  not  as  all  of  the  kind  that 
occurred  in  the  country;  but  to  illustrate  the  prevailing  con- 
ditions under  which  the  pioneers  of  Beadland  labored.       Helen 

176 


Draper  and  Loyd  Upson  were  topical  of  the  men  and  women 
among  whom  the  former  lived,  and  the  latter  grew  to  manhood. 

Several  more  weeks  passed  after  the  dangerous  animals  had 
been  mainly  subdued  by  the  rifle  and  starvation  before  the  in- 
tense cold  abated.  Those  which  withstood  the  rigor  of  the  winter 
best,  were  deer,  rabbits  and  squirrels.  This  was  of  great  benefit 
to  the  people,  for  though  lean,  they  were  eatable.  Dear  subsisted 
largely  on  moss  which  was  found  near  the  roots  of  large  trees,  on 
decaying  timber  and  on  rocks.  It  was  said  to  be  interesting  to 
see  them  cutting  ice  from  rocks  with  their  sharp  hoofs.  Rabbits 
(hares)  or  Molly  Cotton  Tails,  as  the  people  called  them,  lived 
on  bark,  chiefly  of  the  sassafras,  laurel  and  alder.  Squirrels 
dined  on  hickory  nuts,  chestnuts  and  acorns  which  they  had  wisely 
stored  away  during  the  previous  autumn — a  custom  which  they 
still  pursue.  Tell  who  can  how  a  squirrel  finds  the  proper  place 
to  dig  a  hole  through  the  snow  to  unearth  a  nut  which  he  had 
buried  there  mouths  before. 

Of  all  the  small  pests  to  which  the  people  were  subjected,  the 
ground  rat  was  the  most  troublesome.  These  little  stubby-tailed 
rodents  were  very  numerous,  and  being  driven  into  houses  in 
search  of  something  to  eat,  made  them  almost  unin- 
habitable. They  even  gnawed  on  the  feet  and  noses  of  people 
when  asleep.  One  which  Ocean  Scupeen  said  "had  a  sweet  tooth 
in  its  head,"  took  a  snip  from  Helen  Draper's  lip,  and  the  boy 
was  wicked  enough  to  say  that  he  did  not  "blame  the  rat,  but 
commended  it  for  its  good  taste." 

So  many  birds  starved  and  froze  to  death  that  the  great  num- 
ber then  existing  was  never  afterwards  attained,  some  species 
becoming  almost  extinct,  and  a  few  entirely  so.  Turkeys  and  par- 
tridges, the  most  valuable  of  all,  were  too  lean  for  table  use,  and 
boys  sometimes  killed  them  with  sticks.  A  drove  consisting  of 
ten  or  twelve  turkeys  became  so  gentle  that  Helen  and  Mera  fed 
and  sheltered  them  through  the  winter.  When  warm  weather 
came  they  refused  to  leave  their  kind  friends  and  followed  the 
girls  like  a  shadow,  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  domestic  tur- 
key raising  in  northeast  Georgia. 

177 


During:  the  coming  summer,  when  Gov.  George  IMatthews  was 
making  a  lour  of  the  country  with  a  view  to  the  organization  of 
the  then  much-talked  new  County  of  Jackson,  he  stopped  at  Sno- 
don  for  dinner  and  dined  upon  one  of  Helen  and  Mera's  tamed 
turkeys  because  others  were  thought  to  be  too  poor  to  set  before 
a  governor. 

It  was  so  toothsome  that  his  Excellency  asked  the  girls  to 
sell  him  a  pair.  They  did  not  want  to  sell  their  pets;  but  being 
such  an  august  purchaser,  they  finally  consented  to  let  him  have 
a  pair  for  fifteen  shillings  (English  coin) — a  very  good  price. 

Having  divided  the  shillings  equally,  Mera  looked  curiously  at 
the  first  money  she  ever  possessed,  and  really  not  knowing  itg 
value,  at  once  gave  it  to  the  still  suffering  Loyd  Upson  w^ho,  as  she 
said  by  way  of  justifving  her  action  "was  not  able  to  help  him- 
self." 

From  whence  came  such  a  sentiment  from  a  young  girl  of  the 
wilderness?  Her  association,  though  brief,  with  Banna,  Marzee 
and  Helen,  had,  perhaps  unconsciously  implanted  it  in  her 
naturally  noble  heart. 

"When  the  governor  was  ready  to  leave  he  turned  to  Mera,  and 
doubtless  because  of  her  beauty  and  elegant  figure,  looked  at  her 
a  long  time.  The  girl  blushed  and  he  broke  the  silence  by  say- 
ing: "You  are  certainly  a  beautiful  girl  and  I  intend  to  send  you 
a  handsome  sweetheart.  As  I  am  traveling  on  horseback  I  can 
not  carry  the  turkeys  with  me;  but  I  will  send  for  them  before 
long.  Mino  will  come  for  them,  perhaps  next  week.  He  is  a  very 
handsome  young  brave  and  has  an  excellent  character.  He  is  as 
fleet  as  the  wind  and  as  quick  as  an  arrow.  Should  you  and 
Mino  love  each  other,  and  I  think  you  should  because  you  are 
very  much  alike,  the  Governor  of  Georgia  will  come  all  the  way 
here  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony." 

At  the  mention  of  "marriage  ceremony"  Mera  suddenly  ran  to 
Helen  and  threw  both  arms  around  her  neck,  "No,  sir,  Mr.  Gov- 
ernor, I'll  never  leave  such  a  friend  as  this  for  any  one,"  an- 
swered back  the  girl,  patting  Helen  on  the  shoulder,  and  scaling 
her  vow  with  a  kiss. 

178 


"You'll  think  better  of  that  when  you  see  Mino,"  answered 
the  Governor,  as  he  rode  away. 

Governor  Matthews*  then  lived  at  the  Goose  Pond  on  Broad 
river  in  Oglethorpe  County  which  had  been  recently  organized. 
The  anxiously  awaited  "next  week"  came,  and  the  handsome 
young  brave  came  with  it,  as  provided  by  the  Governor.    Hand- 
some he  was,  sure  enough,  and  sure  enough  he  and  Mera  were  so 
much  alike  that  they  would  have  passed  anywhere  as  twin  brother 
and  sister.  It  was  amusing  to  see  them  looking  at  each  other.  Mino 
evidently  fell  in  love  at  first  sight,  and  on  the  second  day  of  his 
visit  he  resolved  to  ask  Mera  to  become  his  wife  and  go  with  him 
to  the  silently  flowing  water  of  Salwigee    (Broad)   river,  from 
whence  he  came.    But  the  girl  was  shy  and  provokingly  distant, 
always  retreating  to  Helen  like  a  child  to  its  mother  when  among 
strangers.     Neither  Miss  Draper  nor  her  friends  w^ere  willing  to 
part  with  their  pet  without  a  struggle.     Still  her  lover  was  so 
handsome  and  pleasant  in  his  manners,  talked  English  even  bet- 
ter than  Mera  herself,  and  showed  so  many  traits  of  civilization, 
that  Helen  wanted  her  to  treat  him  at  least  with  respect. 

At  last  when  the  young  brave  had  almost  despaired  of  bring- 
ing the  girl  to  terms  of  either  acceptance  or  rejection,  he  sat  down 
and  leaned  against  a  tree  that  grew  in  the  Charmed  Circle  to 
brood  over  his  condition.  While  sitting  there  Hoochlechoopah, 
Mera's  father  chanced  to  pass  near.  The  young  brave  looked  up, 
the  man  stopped,  and  their  eyes  met.  Having  looked  at  each 
other  for  a  short  time,  the  passing  Indian  turned  suddenly  and 
without  speaking  a  word,  retraced  his  steps  hastily. 

The  young  brave  was  astonished,  and  thinking  the  big 
stranger  meant  some  harm,  was  at  a  loss  to  know  what  course  to 
pursue,  finally  deciding  that  as  the  turkeys  had  to  be  carried  to 
Gov.  Matthews,  it  would  be  best  for  him  to  leave  the  country,  at 
least  for  the  present  and  return  at  some  future  time.  Arising 
to  carry  out  his  resolutions,  he  naturally  looked  in  the  direction 

*For  a  complete  record  of  the  settlements  on  Broad  River,  in  what  is 
now  Oglethorpe  and  Elbert  Counties,  see  Gov.  Gilmer's  "Early  Settlers  of 
Upper  Georgia." — Ed. 

179 


taken  by  the  retreating  stranger.  To  his  astonishment  he  saw 
the  same  man  who  was  closely  followed  by  a  woman,  approaching 
at  a  brisk  run.  Though  a  little  flustered  he  returned  to  his  seat 
and  awaited  the  result  calmly.  "Look  and  see,  Nyrulyn,"  said 
the  man,  as  he  came  near.  "I  think,"  he  continued  with  some 
excitement,  "that  the  man  sitting  by  the  tree  is  your  long-lost 
brother!" 

Nyrulyn  went  nearer,  intently  gazed  into  the  eyes  of  the 
stranger,  and  going  still  nearer,  turned  up  a  sort  of  cap  which  he 
wore  and  passed  her  hand  over  his  forehead  slowly.  Then  she 
took  one  step  backward,  stood  trembling  for  a  moment,  advanced, 
and,  throwing  her  arms  around  the  bewildered  man,  exclaimed 
exultingly : 

"0  my  long  lost  brother,  little  Adra  Axter.  I  am  your  sister  Ny- 
rulyn. I  know  you  because  you  are  so  much  like  our  mother,  and 
by  the  three-cornered  scar  on  your  forehead.  I  have  described  it 
many  times  over  when  trying  to  find  you.  At  last!  At  last! 
Thank  the  Great  Spirit!    At  last!    At  last!" 

The  emotions  experienced  that  evening  were  strange  indeed. 
The  newly  found  brother  at  once  realized  that  his  love  for  Mera 
must  take  a  different  direction  to  that  for  which  he  had  so  ar- 
dently hoped  for  a  few  hours  before ;  while  she  was  utterly  aston- 
ished to  find  that  her  relations  to  the  handsome  boy  were  to  be 
about  the  same  as  if  he  were  her  brother,  and  that  she  must  call 
him  uncle.  Nyrulyn  was  so  greatly  elated  that  she  sent  for  her 
only  other  brother,  Notha  Neva,  who,  it  will  be  remembered, 
lived  on  the  lower  waters  of  Sandy  Creek.  Tata  Nyxter  was  the 
messenger,  to  whom  that  distance  seemed  as  nothing. 

Mino,  whose  real  name  was  Adra  Axter,  was  stolen  from  his 
parents  when  nearly  three  years  old  by  a  roving  band  of  Chero- 
kees,  who,  not  knowing  his  name,  called  him  Mino.  They  kept 
him  a  slave  until  nearly  grown  and  sometimes  used  him  very 
roughly.  Finally,  his  proud  spirit  rebelled,  and  finding  an  oppor- 
tunity to  escape,  he  made  good  use  of  it.  Though  followed,  his 
wonderful  fleetness  enabled  him  to  escape  his  pursuers.  While 
wandering  over  the  country  aimlessly,  he  fortunately  fell  into  the 

180 


hands  of  Gov.  Matthews,  who,  appreciating  his  good  qualities, 
treated  him  so  kindly  that  the  boy  refused  to  leave  him. 

Adra  Axter  remembered  nothing  of  his  home  life  and  from 
early  boyhood  had  thought  himself  an  orphan  Cherokee,  born  to 
slavery  and  hardship. 

Tata  Nyxter  accompanied  by  his  former  friend,  Notha  Neva, 
soon  returned  to  Snodon.  The  meeting  of  the  brothers  was  very 
affecting,  and  though  the  resemblance  was  not  so  great  as  that 
of  Nyrulyn  and  her  daughter,  they  would  have  passed  for  broth- 
ers anywhere. 

Although  the  sending  of  Tata  Nyxter  after  Notha  Neva  was  it- 
self of  no  historical  importance,  still  "thereby  hangs  a  tale." 

A  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Sandy  Creek  there  was  a 
small  lagoon  or  shallow  lake,  surrounded  by  a  dense  growth  of 
cane,  briers  and  other  small  swamp  growth.  On  its  north  side  was 
a  slightly  elevated  plot  of  dry  land  on  which  stood  a  little  hut 
made  of  poles  and  covered  with  canes  and  clay  mortar.  As  a  Bo- 
huron  Tata  Nyxter  was  well  acquainted  with  the  ground,  knew 
the  purposes  of  the  hut  and  the  exact  location  of  the  only  path 
that  led  to  it.  When  passing  on  his  way  to  Notha  Neva's  home 
in  the  almost  interminable  wilderness  which  lay  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  creek,  he  noticed  that  the  path  had  been  traveled 
recently.  At  first  he  thought  it  only  a  common  occurrence  -lud 
passed  on.  But  knowing  that  the  path  led  to  the  "Secret  Coun- 
cil Chamber"  of  the  Bohurons,  the  further  he  went  the  more  he 
became  convinced  that  in  all  probability  something  unusual  Avas 
on  hand.  Hastening  on  he  told  his  host  of  the  discovery  made, 
and  was  informed  that  strangers  had  been  recently  seen  going 
towards  the  swamp  beyond  the  creek  on  several  different  oc- 
casions. 

Even  against  the  advice  of  his  friends,  he  resolved  to  investi- 
gate the  matter  that  very  night.  He  knew  that  if  the  strangers 
were  Bohuron  leaders,  they  would  sleep  in  the  hut  until  about 
midnight,  and  broil  their  meat  and  talk  over  their  plans  before 
daylight.  Resolving  that  if  discovered  he  would  claim  the  rights 
of  the  clan  himself  (for  the  use  he  had  made  of  the  King  Phil- 
lip's arrow  was  still  unknown  to  any  besides  the  few  who  knew 

181 


the  secret  even  before  the  deed  was  done),  the  boy  reached  the 
path  leading  to  the  hut  awhile  before  midnight. 

Judging  that  the  coast  was  clear,  he  crawled  upon  his  hands  and 
knees  near  the  hut  and  concealed  himself  in  a  cluster  of  scrubby 
laurel  that  grew  near  the  lake  and  between  it  and  the  hut,  wisely 
thinking  that  no  one  would  be  likely  to  come  or  go  in  that  direc- 
tion. 

By  and  by  some  one  was  heard  snoring  in  the  hut  and  the  spy 
knew  it  was  inhabited.  He  thought  it  the  loudest  snoring  he  had 
ever  heard,  and  presently  another,  evidently  annoyed  at  the  dis- 
cordant sound  said  snappishly:  "Huh!  Huh!  Huh!  Up  wake!  you 
the  country  alarm!" 

A  long-drawn  yawn  was  heard,  and  the  snoring  ceased.  A  long 
talk  followed  of  which  the  spy  barely  heard  enough  to  convince 
him  that  his  suspicions  were  well  founded.  Soon,  however,  a 
light  appeared  in  the  hut,  and  the  boy  knew  that  meant  broiling 
meat,  and  maybe,  roasting  an  ash  cake.  Silently  stealing  near, 
he  looked  through  a  small  opening  in  the  wall  and  saw  two  men 
sitting  near  the  fire  broiling  bear  meat.  The  odor  was  delightful, 
yet  he  dared  do  nothing  but  look  and  listen. 

One  of  the  men  was  Wokolog,  a  well-known  Bohuron  leader, 
who,  of  all  Indians,  Tata  Nyxter  and  his  father  most  hated.  The 
other  was  a  stranger  dressed  in  skin  decorated  with  bear  and 
eagle  claws.  On  his  head  was  a  sort  of  skullcap  from  which  pro- 
truded quite  an  array  of  fine  feathers  (Ostrich),  of  a  kind  the  spy 
had  never  seen  before.  This  indicated  that  the  stranger  was 
from  a  distance.  Really  he  was  a  fine-looking  fellow  of  medium 
size,  whose  features,  form,  dress  and  movements  strongly  re- 
minded one  of  Yrtyrmyrmyrmysco. 

Few  words  were  spoken  while  the  meat  was  cooking;  but  soon 
as  it  was  taken  off  the  coals  the  men  engaged  in  conversation. 

From  all  that  was  said  the  stealthy  listener  learned  that  the 
stranger's  name  was  Bonoaguartah,  brother  of  the  slain  Bohuron 
chief,  and  that  his  presence  in  the  country  was  to  reorganize  that 
clan  and  avenge  the  death  of  his  brother.  That  as  the  curious  ar- 
row that  killed  the  chief  must  have  been  furnished  or  used  by 
some  pale-face,  any  white  man  or  woman,  not  even  excepting  the 

182 


royal  blooded  Bauiia,  or  any  Indian  friendly  to  the  whites,  should 
be  the  object  of  their  vengeance,  and  that  they  would  be  ready  to 
start  upon  the  war  path  at  half  of  this  moon. 

As  the  new  moon  went  down  a  little  after  dark  that  night,  *'at 
half  of  this  moon"  meant  about  thirteen  days  hence.  As  was 
afterwards  learned  nearly  two  wrecks  were  allowed  so  as  to  give 
recruits  expected  from  the  low  country  time  to  arrive. 

Having  gained  this  startling  information,  Tata  looked  at  the 
stars,  and  finding  that  daybreak  was  near,  hastened  away  as  he 
had  come.  Soon  he  and  Notha  Neva  was  on  a  brisk  run  for  Sno- 
don,  which  accounts  for  their  early  arrival  there. 

Arrangements  were  at  once  made  to  inform  all  the  citizens  of 
Beadland  and  of  the  Talasee,  Fort  Yargo,  Thomocoggan,  Yamacu- 
tah  and  Groaning  Rock  colonies  of  the  impending  danger.  The 
bearer  of  the  news  to  each  place  carried  a  written  message  of 
which  the  following  is  a  copy: 

"Georgia,  Franklin  Co. 
''Snodon,  Aug.  8th,  1795. 
"To  the  Colonies  of  Yamacutah. 
"Dear  Friends: 

"Danger  threatens.  We  have  lots  of  dry  powder.  If  necessary 
come  help  us  burn  it.  Bearer  will  give  particulars.  Hurrah 
for  success.  Devotedly, 

"Helen  Draper." 

As  the  time  for  Mino's  departure  was  at  hand,  he  took  affec- 
tionate leave  of  his  relatives  and  their  friends  saying:  "If 
danger  comes  Mino  will  be  with  you.  He  too  knows  how  to  use  the 
cracking  rifle  as  well  as  the  twanging  bow." 

Accompanied  by  Notha  Neva,  each  carrying  a  turkey,  the 
brothers  left  Snodon  with  some  sadness.  As  messengers  of  the 
people  of  Beadland,  they  went  by  the  way  of  Thomocoggan,  Yama- 
cutah and  Groaning  Rock. 

The  colonists  being  already  well  provided  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, the  next  thing  deemed  necessary  was  an  effective  or- 
ganization. They  could,  all  told,  muster  a  force  of  98  fighting 
white  men,  and  about  half  that  number  of  women,  many  of  them, 

183 


perhaps  all,  being  as  heroic  in  case  of  necessity  as  Helen  Draper 
herself.  Besides  all  of  them,  including  Nj'rulyn  and  Mera,  were 
dead  shots,  and  as  effective  at  the  port  hole  and  sometimes  in  the 
open  field  as  any  man. 

After  an  absence  of  a  few  days  which  Umausauga  had  spent 
among  his  personal  friends,  he  returned  with  17  loyal  followers, 
which,  when  added  to  the  proscribed  Indians,  Umausauga,  Eto- 
hautee,  Tata  Nyxter,  Hoochlechoopah  and  Notha  Neva  made  a 
fighting  contingent  of  22  friendly  natives,  making  a  total  of  120 
available  men.  Besides,  if  the  fight  continued  to  be  a  local  one  as 
was  supposed,  they  expected  valuable  aid  from  their  sister  col- 
onies. 

About  ten  days  before  the  expected  outbreak  an  organization 
was  effected  which  proved  to  be  satisfactory  to  all. 

Johnson  Josiah  Strong  was  elected  Commander-in-Chief,  and 
the  white  men,  being  divided  into  1st,  2nd,  and  3rd  companies, 
Joe  Lavender,  Ed  Damron  and  Abe  Trent  were  their  commanders, 
with  the  rank  of  Captain.  Ocean  Scupeen  was  quickly  selected 
patrolling  scout. 

Umausauga  was  placed  over  the  natives  with  Tata  Nyxter 
patrolling  scout.  To  complete  the  organization  Helen  Draper  was 
elected  viva  voce  to  lead  the  women,  with  rank  of  Captain. 

To  show  the  spirit  of  that  girl  more  fully  it  may  be  said  that 
after  her  election  she  stepped  in  front  and  said,  "All  command- 
ers-in-chief have  aides.  I  therefore  appoint  Banna  Mar  de  Vedo 
Strong,  Marzee  Marcum,  and  Mera  Hoochlechoopah  my  aides-de- 
camp. Comrades,  take  due  notice  thereof  and  govern  yourselves 
accordingly,  though  I  don't  know  just  what  that  means.  Hurrah 
for  success." 

"Hurrah  for  success,"  shouted  all  the  men,  and  each  one  felt 
that  a  true  Joan  of  Arc  was  among  them.  So  far  as  doing  any- 
thing the  girl  commander  thought  little  of  her  shout,  and  less  of 
her  appointments  at  the  time,  but  "Hurrah  for  success,"  became 
the  battle  cry  of  the  colonists,  and  her  aid  did  as  much  to  achieve 
"success"  as  any  other  three  soldiers  in  the  field. 

Note:  This  closes  the  record  of  the  Talasee  Colony,  just  as  the  "Old 
General"  left  it.     Evidently,  he   intended   following  the  progress   of  this 

184 


colony  "on  and  on  and  on"  in  their  successful  efforts  to  build  homes  and 
settle,  with  the  help  of  the  other  colonies  scattered  over  the  county,  this 
the  garden  spot  of  Georgia.  But  the  grim  reaper,  death,  cut  short  his 
labors. 

With  all  due  respect  to  the  other  settlers  of  the  county,  it  must  be  seen, 
from  records  in  our  court-house,  that  this  colony  was  the  most  influential 
of  any  in  the  county  at  that  time. 

As  the  different  parts  of  the  county  were  settled  and  the  people  began 
to  get  on  their  feet,  so  to  speak,  the  Talasee  section  began  to  give  way,  and 
to  swing  backward  for  a  while.  Such  is  life.  The  pendulum  will  go 
from  one  extreme  to  another.  To-day  all  sections  of  the  county  are  about 
evenly  represented   in   governmental   affairs. 

But,  after  all  is  said,  the  history  of  the  Talasee  people  is  the  history 
of  Yamaeutah;  and  the  history  of  Groaning  Rock  is,  virtually  that  of 
Snodon  and  on  through  the  list.  Thomocoggan  was  as  great  as  Stone- 
throw,  (just  over  the  line  in  Hall  County,  now)  and  Yamtrahoochee  was 
as  great  as  any  in  the  list.  So  none  of  them  can  say  "1  did  it"  but  "We 
did  it  by  each  other's  help." — Ed. 


1S5 


YAMACUTAH.* 

First  Settlers  at  Tumbling  Shoals  and  Related  Incidents. 

How  true  is  the  word  of  God:  "One  generation  passes  away, 
and  another  generation  eometh;  but  the  earth  abideth  forever. 
There  is  no  remembrance  of  things  that  are  to  come  with  those 
that  shall  come  after." 

We  want  to  tell  you  some  things  that  happened  when  the 
twang  of  the  Indian 's  bowstring  was  heard  in  almost  every  forest, 
but  that  was  not  much  worse  than  the  crack  of  the  pistol  as 
heard  in  modern  times.  Then  the  rattlesnake  was  coiled  in  almost 
every  path,  the  scream  of  the  panther  was  heard  on  almost  every 
hill,  and  the  howl  of  the  wolf  echoed  through  almost  every  val- 
ley; but  these  threatenings  were  not  one  whit  worse  than  some 
of  the  dangers  that  menace  modern  society. 

Your  forefathers  dreamed  of  unrestricted  liberty  in  the  bound- 
less forest  and  in  the  national  councils  as  well.  The  modern 
dream  is  largely  of  ambition,  and  the  accumulation  of  riches,  of 
homage  to  fashion,  ease  and  elegance,  the  emoluments  of  office 
and  of  the  loudest  cry  calling  for  extraordinary  privileges  to  a 
favored  few. 

But  after  all,  your  social  gatherings  like  those  of  to-day,  your 
intelligence  and  refinement,  your  schools  and  colleges,  your 
churches  and  Sunday-schools,  your  asylums  and  hospitals,  your 
home  and  foreign  mission  boards,  your  Bible  and  publishing 
houses,  your  railroads,  automobiles,  telegraphs,  telephones,  sew- 
ing machines,  farming  tools,  cotton  factories  and  rolling  mills,  are 
all  infinitely  superior  to  anything  known  one  hundred  years  ago. 

A  century !  That  is  a  long,  long  time.  Very  few  of  the  human 
race  live  that  many  years.  AVhile  I  do  not  believe  that  the  Bible 
fixes  the  limit  of  human  life  at  the  age  of  three  score  and  ten,  as 
David  is  supposed  to  do  in  the  90th  Psalm,  it  is  a  well-attested 
fact  that  the  majority  of  the  race  die  young.     While  we  know 

"Yamacutah"  was  prepared  for  the  Centennial  Celebration  held  in 
Jefiferson,  Ga.,  1906.— Ed. 

186 


comparatively  little  of  the  age  reached  by  those  who  lived  in  this 
county  one  hundred  years  ago,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  none  of  them 
are  living  now.  They  all  sleep  in  the  arms  of  our  common  mother 
earth,  and  how  still  they  lie ! 

They  toiled  hard,  and  met  and  overcame  many  dangers.  Their 
hopes  and  aspirations  were  as  strong  as  yours,  but  along  different 
lines.  They  wrote  little,  but  said  much.  As  far  as  the  record 
goes,  and  as  far  as  legitimate  conclusions  can  be  drawn  from  it, 
a  great  majority  of  them  were  good,  substantial  people.  They 
were  as  true  to  themselves,  to  their  families,  their  neighbors,  their 
country  and  their  God  as  any  who  lived  in  that  age  of  the  world. 
They  were  pioneers :  the  settlers  of  a  frontier  country.  Their 
heroic  struggles  to  overcome  the  unbroken  wilderness  inhabited 
by  wild  beasts  and  wilder  men  are  worthy  of  all  praise.  Of 
course  they  made  mistakes.  With  the  light  of  the  present  genera- 
tion before  them  they  would  have  done  better.  But  with  all  their 
disadvantages,  they  built  better  than  they  knew.  With  their 
primitive  axe  and  scooter  plow  and  rifle  gun  they  laid  a  glorious 
foundation  upon  which  the  present  generation  has  erected  a 
monument  of  which  no  citizen  need  be  ashamed. 

The  comfortable  dwellings  in  which  good  cheer  and  a  God- 
given  hospitality  reign  supreme,  and  the  well  cultivated  farms, 
made  picturesque  hy  plows  that  cut  the  ground  like  a  thing  of 
life,  and  with  harrows,  rakes  and  weeders  that  smooth  it  over 
like  a  fancy  flower-bed,  all — all  tell  us  that  the  people  are  pros- 
perous and  happy.  May  joy  and  contentment  always  be  the 
pleasing  compensations  of  such  a  noble  people. 

I  have  spent  more  than  three-fourths  of  a  long  lifetime  in  close 
relations  with  the  boys  and  girls  of  Jackson  County.  For  thirty 
years  I  passed  more  than  half  my  time  with  her  noble  band  of 
school  teachers. 

The  inspiration  received  from  her  children  and  the  uplifting 
influences  of  her  teachers  have  been  of  more  benefit  to  me  than 
all  other  earthly  things  combined. 

It  has  been  said  by  one  of  the  most  profound  thinkers  of  the 
age,  that,  "To  be  less  than  twenty  years  old,  and  live  in  the  be- 
ginning of  the  20th  century,  is  a  greater  fortune  than  has  ever 

187 


been  offered  to  the  world  before."  Boys  and  girls  of  this  great 
country,  do  you  realize  that? 

Look  well  to  your  laurels,  and  live  up  to  your  great  oppor- 
tunities. No  other  generation  ever  had  such  favorable  and  far 
reaching  ones.  Your  opportunities  are  already  made — made  for 
you.  In  no  other  age  of  the  world  have  such  great  efforts  been 
made  for  the  education  of  the  young  as  have  been  made  for  you. 
Your  ancestors  had  no  such  opportunities.  Roman-like  they  had 
to  make  a  way  or  find  one,  and  they  generally  had  to  make  it. 
And  now  to  give  you  some  idea  of  primitive  life  in  this  country, 
we  will  go  back  to  the  first  permanent  settlement  made  by  white 
people  within  the  present  limits  of  Jackson  County. 

Perhaps  there  are  comparatively  few  people  now  living  in  the 
county  who  know  that  there  is  such  a  place  in  it  as  the  "TUMB- 
LING SHOALS."  For  more  than  a  generation  no  road,  public 
or  private,  has  led  within  sight  of  them;  and  like  most  other 
things  pertaining  to  the  early  settlement  of  this  country  by  the 
Anglo-Saxon  race,  their  history  has  never  been  written.  They  are 
about  one  mile  below  the  well-known  Hurricane  Shoals,  on 
North  Oconee  river,  where  the  water  goes  whirling  around  one 
end  of  a  solid  rock  dam  built  by  the  hand  of  nature,  and  then 
ripples  over  a  series  of  minature  falls  in  such  a  way  as  to  seem 
that  one  wave  rolls  or  tumbles  over  another.  Hence  the  name, 
which  comes  from  the  Cherokee  word,  YAMACUTAH,  signifying 
to  tumble. 

In  1784  Jordan  Clark  and  Jacob  Bankston,*  two  enterprising 
and  adventurous  young  men,  came  from  Virginia  to  Wilkes 
County,  Georgia.  There  they  met  with  a  roving  band  of  Choctaw 
Indians  who  told  them  of  a  strange  old  camping-ground  which 
they  called  Yamacutah.  They  said  it  was  located  on  the  banks  of 
Etoho  (Oconee)  river,  some  two  days'  journey  towards  the  setting 
sun;  that  the  Great  Spirit  once  lived  there;  and  that  since  his 
disappearance  Indians  sometimes  went  to  the  place  to  walk  the 
paths  which  God  once  trod,  and  then  hastened  away,  as  He  had 
done,  without  leaving  a  trail  to  show  which  way  they  went. 

•See  White's  "Historical  Collections  of  Georgia." — Ed. 

188 


Having  their  curosity  aroused,  Clark  and  Bankston  at  once 
resolved  to  go  and  see  if  the  Choctaws  had  told  them  the  truth. 
Late  on  the  afternoon  of  April  22,  1784,  they  reached  a  series  of 
small  shoals,  which  they  immediately  recognized  as  Yamacutah. 
While  the  stream  was  small  and  the  shoals  modest,  they  were 
curious,  and  their  surroundings  were  sublime  and  awe-inspiring 
far  beyond  anything  known  to  the  present  inhabitants. 

Trees  of  fabulous  dimensions  interlocked  their  ponderous 
branches,  and  the  acorns  and  chestnuts  of  the  previous  year  liter- 
ally covered  the  ground.  The  glaring  eyes  and  startling  bound 
of  the  red  deer,  the  wild  chattering  of  a  multitude  of  birds,  and 
the  warning  signal  of  the  rattlesnake,  told  the  new-comers  that 
such  beings  had  seldom,  if  ever,  been  there  before. 

Distant  some  twenty  yards,  a  great  black  bear  was  perched  in 
the  fork  of  a  tree.  As  he  moved  his  forepaws  with  the  evident 
intention  of  descending,  a  ball  from  Clark's  deadly  rifle  crashed 
through  his  head.  Curious  to  say,  as  was  afterwards  learned, 
that  bear's  life  was  the  first  ever  known  to  be  taken  at  or  near 
Yamacutah.  After  a  "delightful  supper  of  broiled  bear  ham,"  as 
the  adventurers  described  it,  they  slept  by  turns,  through  most  of 
the  night,  and  with  the  rising  sun  began  a  careful  examination  of 
their  surroundings. 

About  seventy-five  yards  from  the  west  end  of  the  natural 
rock  dam  they  discovered  a  curious  upright  statue  a  little  over 
four  feet  high.  It  was  made  of  a  soft  talcose  rock,  13  inches 
square  at  the  bottom ;  but  the  top,  from  the  shoulders  up,  was  a 
fair  representation  of  the  human  figure.  The  shoulders  were 
rudimentary,  but  the  head  was  well  formed.  The  neck  was  un- 
duly long  and  slender.  The  chin  and  forehead  were  retreating. 
The  eyes  were  finely  executed,  and  looked  anxiously  to  the  east. 
It  stood  at  the  center  of  an  earth  mound  (17)  seventeen  feet  in 
circumference  and  six  feet  high.  Around  it  were  many  other 
mysteries  which  will  never  be  fully  explained.  Only  a  few  of 
them  may  be  mentioned  now. 

Four  paths,  doubtless  the  ones  the  Choctaws  mentioned,  led, 
with  mathematical  precision,  from  the  base  of  the  mound  to  the 
cardinal  points  of  the  compass.     Though  it  seemed  that  no  oilier 

189 


part  of  the  forest  had  been  trodden  by  human  feet,  these  paths 
were  as  smooth  and  clean  as  a  parlor  floor.  The  scrubby  cane, 
which  seemed  to  have  been  planted  by  design  along  their  mar- 
gins, was  as  neatly  trimmed  as  if  the  work  had  been  done  by  a 
professional  gardener.  And  here,  amid  those  gloomy  solitudes 
the  natives  believed  that  our  God,  their  Great  Spirit,  had  walked 
as  a  man  walks  along  his  homeward  pathway. 

The  statue  was  found  to  be  the  center  of  an  exact  circle  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  diameter.  Its  boundary  was  plain- 
ly marked  by  holes  in  the  ground  three  feet  apart.  The  holes  to 
which  the  paths  ran  in  a  straight  line  from  the  center  were  much 
larger  than  the  intervening  ones;  and  before  them,  inside  the 
circle,  were  what  seemed  to  be  stone  altars  of  varying  dimensions. 
At  the  end  of  the  path  running  to  the  north  was  a  single  triangu- 
lar stone;  at  the  east  were  five  square  stones  and  four  steps;  at 
the  west,  four  stones  and  three  steps;  at  the  south,  three  stones 
and  two  steps.  Upon  the  upper  surface  of  all  the  stones  except 
that  at  the  north  the  effect  of  fire  was  plainly  visible  and  doubtless 
had  been  used  for  sacrificial  purposes. 

All  the  paths  terminated  at  the  altars  except  the  one  running 
to  the  east.  At  this  the  trail  parted,  and,  uniting  beyond  it,  con- 
tinued a  short  distance  and  then,  much  like  an  ascending  column 
of  smoke,  disappeared,  gradually.  The  account  given  by  the 
Choctaws  was  verified.  On  the  smooth  surfaces  of  the  stones 
were  deeply  cut  both  three  and  five-pointed  half  moons,  whose 
horns  turned  in  different  ways. 

A  good  representation  of  the  rising  sun  and  other  curious 
characters  were  deeply  cut  on  the  eastern  altar. 

Outside  the  circle  were  many  ash  heaps,  beaten  hard  by  the 
heavy  hand  of  time,  and  over  some  of  them  were  growing  gigantic 
oaks  and  towering  pines,  as  if  to  mark  the  grave  of  the  dead  past. 

Having  studied  these  and  other  features  of  the  vicinity,  the 
adventurers  went  back  to  their  starting  point  with  a  determina- 
tion to  return  and  make  a  permanent  settlement  at  Yamacutah. 

For  an  unknown  period  of  time  the  immediate  territory  on  both 
sides  of  the  river  and  for  about  one  mile  below,  and  to  the  Hur- 

190 


ricane  Shoals  above,  was  neutral  ground,  claimed  by  neither 
Creek  nor  Cherokee,  the  lords  of  the  adjoining  territory. 

For  reasons  already  given  it  w^as  considered  Holy  Ground :  the 
Indians'  Palestine.  If  on  the  war  path,  they  went  around  it;  if 
enemies  met  there  they  became  friends  as  long  as  they  remained 
there;  by  mutual  consent  of  all  the  tribes  the  life  of  neither  beast 
or  bird,  nor  any  living  thing,  should  ever  perish  there.  It  was 
ever  to  be  a  place  of  refuge  and  never  to  have  upon  it  the  stain 
of  blood.  The  killing  of  the  bear  by  Clark  was  the  first  breach  of 
law  in  the  Holy  Ground,  and  led,  a  few  j-ears  later  to  open  hostili- 
ties between  the  red  and  white  men  w^ho  lived  in  this  part  of  the 
country. 

On  the  20th  day  of  the  following  June  Clark  and  Bankston  re- 
turned to  Yamacutah  and  began  the  first  permanent  settlement  of 
white  people  within  the  present  limits  of  Jackson  County.  They 
were  accompanied  by  John  Harris,  a  nephew  of  Nancy  Hart,  of 
revolutionary  fame,  and  who  became  extensively  known  as  Black 
Harris.  He  was  a  skillful  workman  in  both  wood  and  iron,  and 
of  almost  unlimited  resources  in  strategy  and  cunning. 

A  small  cabin,  which  at  once  became  dwelling-house  and  work- 
shop, was  soon  completed.  Here  such  articles  were  made  as  seemed 
necessary  to  their  simple  wants.  I  now  have  a  cupboard  which 
was  made  by  John  Harris  in  that  shop  in  1785.  It  was  made  of 
boards  split  from  a  huge  pine  tree  that  grew  upon  an  ash  heap 
near  the  eastern  altar.  Though  one  hundred  and  twenty-one  years 
old,  it  is  still  solid  in  all  its  points,  and  no  modern  mechanic  can 
excel  the  workmanship. 

This  ancient  "dresser,"*  as  the  maker  called  it,  together  Avith 
a  curious  cluster  of  pine  cones*  that  grew  upon  the  tree  of  which 
is  was  made ;  an  acorn*  which  fell  from  an  oak  that  reached  its 
ponderous  branches  far  over  the  talcose  statue ;  and  some  other 
things,  I  keep  as  mementoes  of  the  shadowy  past.  When  in  want 
of  curious  mental  food,  or  a  desire  to  leap  at  a  single  bound  from 
the  present  back  to  the  long-gone  past,  I  look  at  these  relics  of  a 
former  age,  and  with  the  old  Saxon  poet  who,  after  his  failure  to 

*These  relics  are  still  in  the  homes  of  the  Author's  children. — Ed. 

101 


penetrate  the  future,  cried  out:  "ROLL  BACK!  ROLL  BACK! 
Oh,  wheels  of  time,  roll  back !  and  let  me  realize  something  of  the 
difference  between  then  and  now." 

The  following  year,  1785,  was  a  memorable  one.  In  May  there 
same  a  cold  wave  which  killed  many  large  trees.  The  bird  family 
was  almost  exterminated,  and  a  large  eagle,  accidentally  feeling 
the  warmth  of  the  cabin,  became  domesticated  and  remained  a  pet 
for  several  months,  when  it  left  wearing  a  bell  which  John  Harris 
had  fastened  around  its  neck  with  his  name  and  date  engraved 
upon  it.  In  1790  this  romantic  bird  was  killed  in  the  vicinity  of 
Augusta.  Even  so  large  and  hardy  animals  as  wolves  and  pan- 
thers were  found  dead  in  the  forest,  and  many  fish  were  frozen 
in  solid  ice. 

But  the  most  remarkable  phenomenon  of  that,  or  perhaps  of  any 
other  year  since  the  crufixion  of  the  Son  of  God  was  the  Dark 
Day  on  November  24th.  It  has  never  been  explained,  and  the 
splendid  illumination  of  the  20th  century  casts  no  light  upon  the 
cause  of  the  darkness.  Though  the  sun  was  visible  all  day  long, 
and  appeared  to  be  much  larger  than  usual,  it  omitted  no  light  ex- 
cept such  as  may  be  seen  while  passing  through  a  dense  fog  at 
night.  The  whole  of  animated  nature  on  the  Western  Hemisphere 
was  astonished  on  that  day,  and  all  who  had  ever  heard  of  the  final 
judgment  listened  in  anxious  expectation  of  hearing  the  long- 
drawn  blasts  of  Gabriel's  trumpet  to  wake  the  sleeping  dead. 

But  only  that  which  took  place  at  Yamacutah  concerns  us  now, 
and  the  tenth  of  that  can  not  be  told  here.  Even  such  strong  and 
heroic  men  as  Clark,  Bankston  and  Harris  were  anxious,  talked 
in  whispers,  and  sat  by  their  cabin  all  day.  Various  animals 
passed  by  in  utter  confusion,  and  several  opossums  and  raccoons 
crouched  near  them,  and  though  they  sat  with  rifles  across  their 
knees,  not  a  gun  was  fired  the  whole  long  day. 

During  the  day  many  Indians  came,  and  seating  themselves 
around  the  mystic  circle,  gazed  steadfastly  towards  the  central 
figure.  This  they  continued  all  day,  and  perhaps  all  night;  for 
when  next  morning  they  saw  the  sun  rise  bright  and  golden  as 
ever,  they  arose  as  one  man,  went  inside  the  circle,  and  solemnly 
walking  along  the  path  to  a  step  as  regular  as  the  beating  of  a 

192 


healthy  heart,  they  disappeared  beyond  the  eastern  altar  as  al- 
ready indicated. 

This  was  the  last  time  this  curious  performance  ever  took  place 
at  the  Tumbling  Shoals,  or  anywhere  else  so  far  as  I  ever  heard. 
What  did  it  mean?  Was  there  any  more  in  it  than  a  mere  heathen 
ceremony? 

In  the  early  part  of  1787  the  little  settlement  was  increased 
by  tKe  arrival  of  an  important  family  consisting  of  Dale  Clover, 
Mrs.  Mary  Clover,  and  their  two  children,  Flora,  a  daughter  four 
years  old,  and  Egbert,  a  litle  boy  just  beginning  to  walk.  They 
came  directly  from  Virginia  by  request  of  Clark  and  Bankston, 
who  were  near  relatives  of  the  Clover  family. 

Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clover  were  edu'^-Hted  and  refined.  The 
latter  was  very  beautiful,  and  her  little  daughter  even  more  so. 
Clark,  Bankston,  Harris  and  Clover  were  revolutionary  soldiers, 
were  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  members  of  the  Baptist  church, 
and  after  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  shook  hands 
with  George  Washington  for  the  last  time.  Who  is  not  proud  to 
live  in  a  county  first  trod  by  such  men? 

The  population  of  Tumbling  Shoals  and  vicinity  had  been 
increased  to  42  men,  women  and  children.  Among  them  were 
Jared  Cunningham,  James  Montgomery  and  Dr.  Henry  Therrauld. 
Cunningham  settled  at  Hurricane  Shoals,  and  one  of  our  districts 
was  named  after  his  son,  John. 

Just  here  one  of  the  strangest  romances  known  to  real  life 
might  be  unearthed  by  the  professional  writer.  Montgomery 
afterwards  moved  to  where  Cabin  Creek  church  now  stands,  and 
building  the  first  cabin  there  both  the  creek  and  church  built  near 
it  took  that  name. 

Dr.  Therrauld  was  an  extraordinary  man  and  his  life  would 
fill  a  volume  of  thrilling  interest.  He  administered  the  first  pro- 
fessional dose  of  medicine  ever  taken  by  a  citizen  of  Jefferson. 
The  patient  was  Mrs.  Thomas  Jett.  He  helped  to  build  the  first 
Baptist  church  organized  in  the  county,  and  preached  the  first 
sermon  delivered  there.  The  church  was  called  "Etoho,"  but 
was  changed  to  Oconee,  and  stood  some  two  miles  east  of  the 
present  Oconee  church. 

193 


Several  good,  substantial  dwelling-houses,  a  strong  fort,  a  small 
grist  mill,  a  successful  iron  furnace  and  a  school  house  had  been 
built  at  Yamtrahoochee  (Hurricane  Shoals).  The  first  school  in 
the  county  was  taught  here  by  our  same  Dr.  Therrauld,  with  a 
maximum  number  of  ten  pupils. 

Iron  ore  for  the  foundry  was  digged  from  the  mines  near  the 
present  city  of  Commerce,  and  from  near  Dry  Pond,  where  many 
tons  were  taken  and  carried  to  be  smelted  at  the  Shoals. 

Fragments  of  pots,  ovens  and  skillets  were  thick  around  the  old 
site  until  1840,  when  the  great  Harrison  flood,  as  the  big  rain  was 
called,  swept  away  almost  every  vestige  of  its  former  life.  Then 
work  had  to  start  anew.  The  old  furnace  was  kept  in  operation 
as  late  as  the  sixties,  during  the  civil  war. 

Trouble  with  the  Indians  had  been  brewing  for  some  time  and 
open  hostilities  began  in  1801,  with  varying  results  until  the  gage 
of  battle  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  white  people,  but  at  the 
fearful  cost  of  Dr.  Therrauld 's  life — a  loss  as  great  as  Jackson 
County  ever  felt.  In  these  conflicts  Clark,  Bankston,  Harris, 
Clover,  Cunningham,  Montgomery  and  Therrauld  always  com- 
posed the  front  rank. 

Only  a  few  incidents  may  be  given.  One  afternoon  when  most 
of  the  men  were  at  work  in  a  corn  field,  with  their  rifles  hanging 
down  their  backs  in  deer-skin  pouches  made  for  the  purpose, 
little  Egbert  Clover,  who  had  left  the  fort  unobserved,  was  vio- 
lently seized  by  a  painted  Indian  warrior.  His  mother  who  was 
an  expert  with  the  rifle  ran  out  at  the  only  door,  and  just  as  she 
saw  her  little  boy's  brains  dashed  out  against  a  large  rock,  she 
fired  and  the  Indian  fell  dead. 

John  Harris  made  a  razor  strop  of  skin  taken  from  that  In- 
dian's back,  and  many  razors  were  afterwards  sharpened  on  it. 
This  is  a  grim  feature  of  the  times ;  but  remember  what  Sherman 
said  about  war. 

Only  a  short  time  after  this  sad  event,  Flora  Clover,  sister  of 
little  Egbert,  and  Susan  Bingham,  the  13-year-old  daughter  of 
Hiram  Bingham,  mysteriously  disappeared  from  home.  For  six 
long,  painful  weeks,  every  possible  effort  was  made  to  discover 
them;  but  without  avail.     When  all  hope  was  well-nigh  gone,  a 

194 


man  of  gigantic  proportions  was  seen  approaching  the  fort  with 
a  white  handkerchief  streaming  from  the  muzzle  of  a  long  rifle, 
and  another  covering  the  lower  part  of  his  face.  Finding  that  he 
was  seen,  he  deliberately  placed  the  paper  under  a  flat  rock  and 
went  away  as  he  had  come,  with  a  bold,  lordly  step.  The  paper, 
written  in  elegant  style,  read  as  follows : 

"A  little  after  dark  to-night,  leave  the  key  in  the  lower  door  of 
the  furnace,  and  about  12  you  may  find  Flora  and  Susan  inside. 
Place  an  invisible  guard.  ALISCO. 

The  anxiety  of  the  evening  was  great  beyond  description.  The 
instructions  given  were  strictly  followed.  About  1  o'clock  that 
night,  the  huge  form  of  a  giant  leading  two  girls  approached  the 
door,  the  great  key  made  by  John  Harris  turned  in  the  lock,  the 
girls  were  gently  lifted  inside,  the  door  silently  closed,  and  the 
giant  disappeared  in  the  deep  shade  of  the  trees.  A  few  minutes 
more  and  Flora  Clover  and  Susan  Bingham  were  in  their  father's 
arms.    There  was  joy  at  Yamacutah  that  night. 

In  the  meantime,  other  settlements  had  been  made  in  the  terri- 
tory. At  Stonethrow,  now  Gillsville,  were  43  settlers ;  at  Groaning 
Rock  47 ;  at  Talasee,  afterwards  Clarksboro,  were  51 ;  at  Thomo- 
eoggan  and  vicinity  63;  Yamacutah  42,  and  at  places  settled  by 
families,  104,  making  the  population  of  the  county  at  the  time 
of  its  organization  350  white  people. 

In  1795,  the  year  before  Jackson  County  was  organized,  there 
died  near  where  Berea  church  is,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Patrick 
Shaddon,  the  grandfather  of  Mrs.  John  Jacobus  Flournoy*  of 
local  celebrity. 

A  part  of  Shaddon 's  estate  was  a  well-grown  ox  that  ran 
through  the  woods  as  wild  as  a  buck.  Somehow,  this  ox,  or  Shad- 
don's  steer,  as  he  was  called,  became  public  property.  Though  he 
ran  like  a  race  horse  and  jumped  over  fences  like  a  deer,  he  was 
finally  captured  and  broken  to  harness  by  a  famous  Indian  whose 

*John  Jacobus  Flournoy  was  a  deaf  mute  and  was  a  man  of  means.  He 
knew  the  handicap  under  which  the  "deaf  and  dumb"  have  to  live.  He, 
therefore,  set  to  work  for  state  aid  for  the  unfortunates  that  had  not 
the  money  to  attend  schools  in  the  North.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in 
establishing  the  school  for  special  instruction  at  Cave  Spring. — Ed. 

195 


name  was  Anaxicorn.  The  strange  feature  about  the  matter  was 
that  while  in  harness  and  at  work  he  was  entirely  gentle  and 
docile;  but  as  soon  as  turned  loose  he  ran  away  at  full  speed  as 
wild  as  he  ever  was,  and  as  difficult  to  capture.  It  became  a 
custom  that  whoever  caught  the  Shaddon  steer  was  at  liberty  to 
work  him  one  week,  but  must  then  turn  him  loose. 

On  one  occasion  he  was  chased  by  men  on  horseback  as  far  as 
the  vicinity  of  Jefferson.  William  T.  Brantly,  a  young  man  then 
living  at  Thomocoggan,  and  who  could  throw  a  lasso  as  well  as 
a  Mexican  ranehero,  joined  in  the  chase  and  soon  captured  the 
prize  with  his  unerring  rope.  As  soon  as  the  ox  found  that  his 
foreleg  was  hampered  he  submitted  without  a  struggle.  He  was 
his  captor's  property  for  six  days,  and  the  first  plowing  ever  done 
in  Jefferson  territory  was  during  the  next  day  when  Mr.  Brantly 
plowed  the  public  square  with  the  Shaddon  steer. 

About  this  time  most  of  the  citizens  living  within  the  original 
boundary  of  Jackson,  but  then  known  as  Franklin  County,  as- 
sembled at  Thomocoggan  to  consider  various  public  measures. 
This  was  the  first  step  taken  towards  organizing  a  new  county, 
but  they  failed  to  agree  upon  any  other  name  than  a  general  one, 
"THE  WHITE  MAN'S  CONFERERACY."  It  retained  this  dis- 
tinctive title  for  many  years  after  the  county  was  organized. 

Also,  about  this  time,  the  "Confederacy,"  in  common  with 
other  parts  of  the  world,  was  visited  by  the  "JERKS,"  a  queer 
disease,  if  a  disease  at  all,  and  in  this  part  of  the  country  was 
called,  "The  Move-a-Diddles."  People  sitting  or  standing  quietly 
at  work  were  seen  to  jump  suddenly,  sometimes  as  far  as  five  or 
six  feet  at  a  single  bound,  while  every  muscle  in  them  would  jerk 
and  twist  in  fearful  contortions  for  some  ten  or  fifteen  minutes. 
Then  the  whole  body  became  rigid  and  was  incapable  of  motion 
for  about  the  same  length  of  time.  This  was  followed  by  a  dull 
stupor  that  sometimes  continued  for  several  hours,  and,  as  a  good 
old  lady  of  the  times  said,  made  her  feel  "like  she  had  the  jim- 
jams."  As  I  do  not  know  how  the  jim-jams  feel,  I  can  not  give 
any  further  description. 

In  those  days  there  lived  near  Jefferson,  two  brothers,  George 
and  Thomas  Groves,  and  their  wives  were  sisters.     There  were 

196 


two  children  in  each  family,  both  girls  being  about  17  or  18  years 
old,  and  the  boys  about  half  grown.  They  were  all  unusually 
bright  and  intelligent,  and  the  girls  unusually  beautiful.  One 
day  Matthew,  the  son  of  Thomas  Groves,  suddenly  became  sick 
when  his  mother  was  absent.  Having  lain  as  if  asleep  for  a  few 
minutes,  he  opened  his  eyes  and  told  his  sister  Lucy  that  he  was 
dying,  and  that  his  cousin,  Nellie,  the  daughter  of  George  Groves, 
was  dying  also.    He  then  closed  his  eyes  and  said : 

"Put  my  Bible  under  my  head, 

My  prayer  book  under  my  feet — 
If  mother  comes  before  I  wake, 
Tell  her  I  am  asleep." 

With  the  last  word  the  boy  died  as  a  candle  is  blown  out. 

It  was  soon  found  that  Nellie  Groves  had  expired  in  about  the 
same  way.  They  were  buried  in  one  grave,  each  with  Bible  and 
prayer  book  as  directed  by  Matthew's  last  words. 

All  alone  their  dust  sleeps  somewhere  not  far  from  the  resi- 
dence of  Mr,  George  Smith,  the  place  where  Nellie's  father  lived. 

For  a  long  time  Lucy  Groves  was  silent  and  moody.  She  in 
some  mysterious  way  became  both  Nellie  and  Lucy  Groves.  She 
often  went  to  her  tFncle  George's  house  and  did  work  just  as 
Nellie  had  planned  it  before  her  death.  A  finger  ring  and  some 
other  articles  that  could  not  be  found  by  the  family  were  pro- 
duced by  Lucy  upon  a  moment's  notice.  Even  the  secrets  be- 
tween Nellie  and  the  young  man  to  whom  she  was  engaged  to  be 
married,  were  well  known  to  Lucy  in  every  particular.  Some 
said  they  ought  to  marry  and  they  did  marry,  though  Lucy  said 
she  never  loved  him  till  after  Nellie's  death. 

Other  instances  of  this  kind  have  been  known  in  the  history  of 
the  human  race;  but  it  is  a  psychological  phenomenon  that,  so 
far  as  I  know,  is  not  understood. 

The  first  county  site  of  Jackson  was  at  Clarksboro  about  one 
mile  north  from  Talasee  Shoals;  but  the  cutting  off  of  Clarke 
made  it  necessary  to  move  our  capital  nearer  the  center  of  the 
county,  and  a  committee  composed  of  George  Wilson,*  James 

*Geo.  Wilson  and  Jas.  Pittman  were  very  prominent  Inferior  Court 
Judges  of  this  county. — Ed. 

197 


Pittman  and  Josiah  Easley  selected  the  place,  not  because  it  was 
surrounded  by  a  broad,  extended  plain ;  but  because  it  was,  and 
still  is,  as  near  the  center  of  the  county  as  they  could  determine ; 
because  that  four  bubbling  springs  poured  forth  as  many  foun- 
tains of  pure,  crystal,  life-giving  water;  and  because  it  washed 
its  face  every  time  it  rained.  They  named  the  place  Jefferson,* 
after  Thomas  Jefferson  of  Virginia. 

When  Xerxes  marshaled  his  vast  army  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hellespont,  he  wept  because  of  all  that  great  multitude  not  one 
man  would  be  living  100  j^ears  hence.  And  well  might  Xerxes 
weep !  He  had  visited  only  the  tomb  of  Adam ;  and  not  one  ray 
of  light  came  from  its  dark,  mysterious  depths.  We  have  visited 
the  tomb  of  Jesus — the  open,  not  closed  sepulchre  of  a  crucified 
Kedeemer,  and  it  is  radiant  with  light  and  glory — have  almost 
heard  the  angelic  anthem  that  rolled  over  the  plains  of  Bethle- 
hem, "Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  on  earth,  peace;  good  will 
towards  men." 

Oh,  Jefferson !  Jefferson  !  Standing  almost  alone  among  the  red 
hills  of  Georgia  where  no  great  thoroughfare,  teeming  with  busy 
life  and  great  purposes  ever  passes  by,  what  have  you  done? 
Surrounded  on  e\ery  side  by  working,  pushing,  wide-awake  rivals, 
where  lightnings  flash  from  hill  to  hill,  and  thunders  roar  along 
their  winding  valleys,  what  have  you  done?  Listen  not  in  echo, 
for  the  answer. 

Jefferson  is  known  and  honored  all  over  the  civilized  world, 
and  in  many  heathen  countries.     Menelik,  the  heathen  king  of 

*It  is  a  very  difficult  matter  to  determine  just  ■when  Jefferson  was  made 
the  seat  of  county  affairs.  In  1799  the  courts  were  held  in  Kirkpatrick 's 
house,  but  does  not  say  where  this  gentleman's  house  was.  In  1802  the 
court  met  in  the  court-house.  But  where?  In  1804  they  were  using  a  court- 
house, according  to  the  records.  But  where?  The  records  show  that  the 
court  was  held  in  the  court-house  at  Jefferson  in  1805.  The  Acts  of  the 
General  Assembly  state  that  a  committee  was  appointed  to  select  a  place 
for  the  court-house,  and  at  the  next  session  that  act  would  be  repealed  and 
another  committee  appointed. 

It  is  almost  certain,  however,  that  Jefferson  was  considered  the  county 
site  as  early  as  1803,  and  in  the  year  1806  an  Act  was  approved  "Making 
Jefferson  the  permanent  place  for  the  court-house  and  for  holding  the 
courts. ' ' — Ed. 

198 


far-away  and  benighted  Abyssinia,  has  openly  expressed  a  wish 
to  see  Jefferson. 

Most  of  the  potentates  of  Europe,  and  all  the  learned  physi- 
cians and  scientists  of  the  world  have  desired  to  visit  Jefferson, 
and  many  have  written  about  it.  In  Bristol,  England,  there  is 
published  a  medical  journal  called  "The  Jeffersonian,"  not  for 
Jefferson,  the  politician;  but  for  our  Jefferson,  the  mitigator  of 
pain  and  suffering. 

And  why  is  all  this  renown?  The  answer  has  been  heard 
around  the  globe,  and  I  will  repeat  it  here. 

It  is  because  that  here  Dr.  Crawford  AV.  Long  discovered  the 
anaesthetic  properties  of  sulphuric  ether !  And  Jefferson  was  im- 
mortal! Go  to  the  blood-red  battlefields  of  America,  Europe, 
Africa  and  Asia,  look  at  the  great  hecatomb  of  amputated  limbs 
of  wounded  soldiers,  and  the  surgeons  will  tell  you  that  all  of 
this  was  done  without  pain. 

Go  to  the  hospital  where  every  breeze  is  laden  with  the  groans 
of  the  suffering,  and  ask  the  nurses  who  flit  from  couch  to  couch 
like  angels  of  mercy,  who  is  the  greatest  and  best  loved  doctor 
there  and,  as  if  by  one  voice,  will  come  the  answer — CRAWFORD 
LONG  OF  JEFFERSON ! 

Those  of  us  who  have  heard  his  gentle  step  in  the  sick  room, 
seen  his  beaming  smile,  and  almost  effeminate  features,  and  know 
the  sterling  worth  of  his  character  as  a  high-toned,  Christian 
gentleman,  love  to  .join  in  with  the  loud  acclaim — All  honor  to 
Dr.  Crawford  W.  Long  and  to  Jefferson,  from  whence  he  first 
started  on  his  glorious  mission  of  mercy. 

And  other  great  and  good  men  have  lived  there.  High  on  the 
roll  of  honor  is  the  well-known  name  of  "WILLIAM  DUNCAN 
MARTIN."  Tennyson  has  well  said  that,  "To  live  in  the  hearts 
we  leave  behind  is  not  to  die." 

This  is  figuratively  true,  and  William  D.  Martin  still  lives. 
Again  the  poet  says — 

"Howe'er  it  be   it   seems   to  me, 
The  noble  are  the  truly  good; 
Kind  hearts  are  more  than  coronets, 
And  simple  faith  than  Norman  blood." 

199 


This  is  also  true,  and  William  D.  Martin  wears  a  crown  to-day, 

and  it  is  set  with  many  glitering  diamonds  whose  brilliancy  will 
never  grow  less.  His  crown  is  Martin  Institute.  The  jewels 
which  sparkle  in  it  are  the  great  number  who  have  entered  its 
doors  as  pupils.  They  represent  almost  every  phase  of  noble  life 
known  to  human  endeavor.  To  many  lands  they  have  carried 
glad  tidings  from  JetlPerson. 

Peace  to  the  ashes  of  those  who  sleep,  and  long  and  happy  life 
to  those  who  live. 

When  William  D.  Martin  founded  and  endowed  the  school 
named  for  him,  he,  too,  "Built  better  than  he  knew." 


1 


200 


THE  OLD-TIME  LOGROLLING  AND  SOME  OF  ITS  RELATED 

INCIDENTS. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Log  is  Rolled. 

For  many  years  after  the  fir.st  settlement  of  Jackson  County, 
the  logrolling  (logpiling)  was  the  most  popular  public  occasion 
known  to  the  times.  The  vast  forests  which  reached  to  an  un- 
known distance  in  every  direction  contained  a  great  number  of 
large  trees  which  had  to  be  cut  into  convenient  lengths  and  piled 
for  the  purpose  of  burning.  This  was  the  "logrolling."  It  was 
a  big  occasion,  and  in  the  way  of  good  cheer  and  a  spontaneous 
flow  of  friendship  and  neighborly  love,  extraordinary  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  it.  Though  not  in  the  flash  of  modern 
advancement,  the  people  were  happy,  loyal  to  themselves,  to  each 
other,  to  their  country,  and  to  their  God. 

It  was  not  deemed  necessary  to  give  any  one  a  special  invita- 
tion to  a  logrolling.  The  day  was  appointed,  notice  given,  and 
that  was  all.  The  whole  family,  men,  women  and  children,  were 
glad  to  go,  and  glad  to  stay  all  day,  frequently  all  night.  And 
all  were  welcome.    Their  happiness  was  at  high  tide. 

However,  this  was  not  all  that  pertained  to  the  old-time  log- 
rolling. A  quilting  Avas  nearly  always  simultaneous  with  it. 
While  the  men  were  rolling  logs  in  the  field,  their  mothers,  wives, 
sisters  and  sweethearts  were  making  bed  quilts  in  the  house,  and 
the  children  were  playing  in  the  creek  or  wading  through  the 
swamp. 

Nor  indeed  was  this  all.  At  night  the  dance  was  always  pro- 
vided for.  It  was  not  known  by  the  flippant  name  of  "frolic,"  or 
softened  down  to  the  easy  word  "party."  It  was  a  dance,  and 
the  dancers  danced. 

The  logrolling  which  I  have  selected  to  illustrate  pioneer  life 
in  this  county  became  known  as  the  "Dunson  Logrolling,"  and 
I  have  chosen  it  because  it  represents  one,  and  only  one  feature 

201 


of  human  endeavor,  which  I  believe  has  never  been  witnssed  any- 
where else  in  the  world. 

This  may  sound  like  somebody  has  been  riding  on  a  high  horse. 
Wait,  let's  see. 

William  Dunson  was  of  German  descent,  and  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  the  county.  As  we  are  to  learn  of  him  further  on,  it 
is  only  necessary  to  state  here  that  he  pitched  his  tent  on  Little 
Sandy  Creek,  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Groaning  Rock,  and 
that  he  became  a  strong,  progressive  and  honorable  farmer. 

A  short  time  after  this,  Gendelph  LeCain  came  from  Virginia, 
and  settled  near  Mr.  Dunson.  His  wife,  Mrs.  Florette  LeCain,  was 
a  magnificent  woman,  in  the  prime  of  life.  Large,  unusually  tall, 
no  sculptor  ever  dreamed  of  a  more  graceful  figure.  Educated 
and  refined,  her  manners  were  dignified,  but  pleasant  and  agree- 
able. She  claimed  to  be  a  graduate  of  a  celebrated  cooking  school 
in  Paris,  and  of  the  many  who  enjoyed  the  hospitality  of  her 
table,  not  one  ever  doubted  her  claim. 

Idalone,  pronounced  Id-ah-lone  was  their  only  daughter,  and 
though  quite  young  at  the  time  of  her  arrival,  she  soon  became 
a  Hebe  in  beauty  and  a  Sampson  in  physical  strength.  At  the 
time  of  the  Dunson  logrolling  she  was  said  to  be  18  years  old, 
and  more  powerfully  and  elegantly  developed  than  her  mother. 
She  was  very  beautiful.  Her  features  were  regular  and  her  form 
classical.  She  had  been  educated  by  her  parents,  was  a  lover  of 
books,  and  often  studied  them  far  into  the  night.  She  cooked, 
knit  stockings,  carded  and  spun  wool,  wove  cloth,  cut  and  made 
clothes,  fed  cattle,  and  jumped  the  calf-rope  when  on  her  way  to 
the  cowpen.  Her  step  was  graceful  and  seemed  to  be  as  firm  as 
the  hills  over  which  she  so  often  roamed. 

Thus  Idalone  LeCain  stood,  waiting  for  her  mother,  on  the  hill 
which  overlooked  the  "new  ground"  where  Mr.  Dunson  had  ar- 
ranged to  have  his  annual  logrolling  that  day.  It  was  a  bright 
April  morning,  when  the  singing  of  birds  and  the  chirping  of 
crickets  seemed  to  proclaim  joy  and  gladness  for  all.  But  for 
once  the  young  girl  was  sad.  She  could  see  that  some  of  the  log- 
rollers  had  already  arrived;  great,  broad-shouldered  men  of 
fabulous  strength  and  heroic  endurance.    Though  it  was  some  re- 

202 


lief  to  know  that  her  father  was  among  them,  her  sadness  in- 
creased with  each  recurring  thought.  She  felt  that  the  day  might 
shape  her  destiny  for  all  time  to  come;  for  odd  as  it  seems, 
Idalone  LeCain  was  to  be  one  of  the  logrollers  that  day.  She,  and 
other  girls,  too,  had  often  attended  these  gatherings ;  and  one  day 
a  gallant  young  fellow  playfully  bantered  her  to  become  his 
"toting  mate."  She  accepted  the  challenge,  and  with  one  hand 
carried  her  part  of  the  log,  and  defiantly  patted  the  log  with  the 
other.  This  was  a  revelation,  and  continued  from  time  to  time, 
until  Mr.  Dunson,  having  discovered  her  amazing  strength,  pitted 
her  against  any  young  man  that  could  be  brought  on  the  field. 
This  continued  for  two  seasons,  and  though  several  of  the  most 
powerful  men  in  the  surrounding  country  accepted  the  challenge, 
none  of  them  were  able  to  bring  out  her  strength. 

Finally  she  playfully  remarked  that  she  would  marry  any 
clever,  good-looking  young  man  who,  "could  make  her  walk  un- 
steady while  carrying  a  log."  She  made  this  offer  because  all  the 
young  men  with  whom  she  was  acquainted  already  knew  better 
than  to  put  her  to  such  a  test.  Still  she  thought  that  some 
stranger  might  appear,  and  it  was  this  that  made  her  feel  sad. 
As  already  seen,  she  was  waiting  for  her  mother  on  the  hill  which 
overlooked  the  logrolling  ground.  She  did  not  have  to  wait  long, 
and  arm  in  arm,  mother  and  daughter  approached  the  men  who 
were  waiting  for  all  "hands"  to  arrive. 

"Great  Jupiter,"  exclaimed  an  old  man,  Thomas  Perry,  who 
was  present,  not  to  roll  logs,  but  to  carry  the  demijohn  and  water 
for  those  who  did.  He  was  sitting  on  a  stump  with  his  mouth 
wide  open,  as  some  one  asked : 

"What  is  the  matter,  Uncle  Tom?" 

"Gewhillicans!  such  a  sight!"  was  the  only  answer  given,  as  the 
old  man  turned  his  eyes  from  the  approaching  "beauties,"  as 
they  were  often  called. 

Idalone  was  not  mistaken  in  her  apprehension.  William  T. 
Brantly  of  Jefferson,  the  same  that  had  caught  and  plowed  the 
Shaddon  steer,  had  not  seen  the  wonderful  girl,  but  had  often 
heard  of  her.  Learning  of  the  Dunson  logrolling,  and  that  the 
famous  beauty  might  be  there  as  a  champion,  he  at  once  decided 

203 


to  attend  "the  show,"  as  he  termed  it;  not,  however,  with  the  in- 
tention of  entering  any  contest.  He  was  among  the  first  arrivals 
and  was  sitting  on  a  log  when  mother  and  daughter  appeared.  It 
was  a  case  of  love  at  first  sight.  This  was  no  usual  occurrence. 
He  afterwards  said,  "I  at  once  felt  stronger,  and  could  have 
jumped  ten  feet  further  than  ever  before. ' '  He  was  a  powerfully 
made  man,  tall,  broad-shouldered,  well-formed,  athletic,  and 
"good-looking."  Some  thought  that  for  once  the  champion  girl 
was  overmatched.  Most  admitted  that  there  was  some  danger. 
"Not  a  bit  of  it  to  our  girl,"  said  Mr.  Dunson,  defiantly. 

A  cheer  followed  this  expression,  and  the  necessary  prepara- 
tions began.  A  poplar  log,  three  feet  and  two  inches  in  diameter 
at  the  small  end,  and  fifteen  feet  long,  was  selected  by  mutual 
consent,  for  the  great  trial,  and  it  was  to  be  carried  to  a  large 
flat  rock  ten  yards  distant.  Such  a  log,  green  and  solid,  was  very 
heavy,  and  to  "tote"  it  usually  required  about  as  many  men  as 
could  walk  on  both  sides. 

The  team  and  sets  selected  were  as  follows : 

1.  Miss  Idalone  LeCain,  William  Thadeus  Brantly. 

2.  "William  Dunson,  Geo.  Wilson. 

3.  James  Nash,  Robert  Wilson. 

4.  Drury  Gee,  Dr.  Henry  Therrauld. 

5.  Notty  Gore,  Gendelph  LeCain. 

This  list  presents  a  formidable  array  of  physical  power,  and  is 
given  here  as  a  slight  memorial  of  the  substantial  worth  of  those 
who  composed  it.  Wish  it  could  be  greater !  Seems  like  the  mute 
eloquence  of  their  dust  can  almost  be  heard  moaning  amid  the 
few  tree-tops  left  of  those  primeval  forests  through  which  they 
once  so  gladly  roamed.  A  deep  thinker  has  asked,  "What  matters 
it  if  the  individual  dies,  since  the  race  continues?"  It  is  some 
consolation  to  know  that  descendants  of  some  of  "the  famous 
ten"  still  live  in  the  county. 

Rev.  James  Rogers,  a  young  minister  of  the  gospel,  was  chosen 
umpire.  When  they  heard  that  the  interesting,  but 
dreaded,  contest  was  actually  to  come  off,  all  the  ladies  who  at- 
tended the  quilting  rushed  to  witness  the  scene.    When  they  saw 

204 


the  manly  form  and  stately  bearing  of  Brantly,  they  trembled  for 
the  result;  they  did  not  want  their  favorite  girl  to  leave  them. 
Her  mother  wept  like  a  stricken  child.  The  girl  herself  appeared 
to  be  composed  and  self-reliant.  This  had  always  been  one  of  her 
sustaining  powers. 

"All  ready!"  called  out  the  umpire.  The  sets  advanced  to  take 
their  places  as  indicated  by  the  list,  the  first  being  in  front  at  the 
heavy  end  of  the  log. 

As  Idalone  went  forward  she  drew  her  right  sleeve  above  her 
elbow,  lest  her  left  hand  should  become  entangled  in  it.  And 
such  an  arm!  It  was  noticed  that  when  Blantly  saw  the  great 
muscles  below  the  elbow,  like  layers  of  knotted  ropes  twisted 
together,  he  turned  pale,  and  compressed  his  lips.  When  at  their 
places,  he  looked  over  the  log  and  thought  the  prize  worthy  of 
the  best  effort  of  his  life.    And  he  made  it.    Idalone  only  blushed. 

''Log  up,  and  steady  yourselves!"  came  the  command. 

Slowly  the  great  log  arose  from  its  bed.  All  stood  upright — 
firm — without  a  tremor. 

"Forward." 

With  measured  tread  the  designated  rock  was  reached  and  the 
ponderous  log  placed  upon  it. 

"Not  so  much  as  one  unsteady  step  was  made  by  anybody  I  It 
is  a  victory  for  all,  but  for  no  individual!"  proclaimed  the  um- 
pire gladly. 

Then  such  a  great  shout  went  up  that  the  echo  came  reverbera- 
ting over  the  hills  and  met  and  clashed  in  the  valleys.  The  squir- 
rels came  from  their  hiding  places  in  the  surrounding  forests,  ran 
along  the  limbs  of  the  trees,  suddenly  stopped,  gave  their  pretty 
tails  a  few  spasmodic  jerks,  and  began  to  bark.  Droves  of  wild 
turkeys  roving  the  woods  hard  by  stopped  scra'tching  among  the 
fallen  leaves,  raised  their  great  red-wattled  heads  high  in  the  air, 
listened,  then  spread  their  tails,  and  with  their  ominous  "quit, 
quit,"  went  further  into  the  forest.  They  nor  the  squirrels  had 
ever  heard  such  an  alarm  before. 

Then  Uncle  Tom  Perry  carried  the  old  Dutch  demijohn  around, 
and  most,  but  not  all,  took  a  "dram."  "Oh,  horrors!"  the 
modern  reader  may  exclaim;  and  well  he  might  if  such  a  thing 

205 


was  done  in  these  days.  But,  then,  as  a  rule,  people  did  not  get 
drunk.  No  boy  or  young  man  was  ever  seen  drunk,  and  women 
did  not  drink  at  all.  We  may  notice  that  the  shouting  began  be- 
fore the  dram  was  taken,  nor  was  it  repeated  afterwards. 

When  the  shouting  ceased,  Idalone  was  leaning  against  the  log. 
Her  fine  eyes  sparkled  like  opals  in  the  sunlight.  Brantly  came 
and  stood  by  her.  He  was  evidently  embarrassed,  and  in  deep 
meditation.  When  about  to  speak,  Mr.  Rogers  came  to  the  rescue, 
saying: 

"Miss  LeCain,  you  are  still  uneonquered,  and  in  my  opinion  are 
likely  to  remain  so.  Mr.  Brantly  is  at  least  your  equal;  for  I 
saw  that  you  both  made  desperate  efforts  to  gain  the  mastery. 
Neither  wavered  for  a  moment.  You  are  therefore  equal  so  far  as 
this  contest  is  concerned,  and  I  can  make  no  decision.  Therefore, 
I  shall  shift  my  responsibility  as  umpire,  to  you." 

Turning  to  Brantly,  he  continued:  "Mr.  Brantly,  please  take 
position  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  log." 

Without  knowing  what  was  intended,  he  leaped  over  at  a  single 
bound.    The  umpire  continued: 

"Now,  Miss  LeCain,  there  is  nothing  between  you,  as  I  believe, 
but  the  log.  If  you  are  both  willing  to  remove  this  barrier,  shake 
hands  over  it." 

Without  hesitation  Brantly  offered  his  hand.  Idalone  was 
taken  by  surprise ;  her  face  turned  pale ;  she  had  not  time  to 
think.  After  some  hesitation,  she  turned  her  great  blue  eyes  to- 
ward hjer  father  and  mother,  who  were  standing  near.  Tears  were 
chasing  each  other  down  the  cheeks  of  both.  They  too,  hesitated ; 
but  finally  nodded  their  heads;  they  could  not  speak.  Covering 
her  eyes  with  her  left  hand,  and  resting  her  head  on  what  she 
afterwards  called  "the  dear  old  poplar  log,"  she  extended  her 
right  hand  toward  Brantly.  He  quickly  grasped  it,  and  before 
any  one  had  time  to  think,  he  had  leaped  back  over  the  log  and 
there  was  nothing  between  them. 

Though  more  than  half  in  love  with  Idalone  LeCain  himself, 
Mr.  Rogers,  holding  his  hat  upon  a  level  with  his  shoulders,  said : 

"I  know  these  two  young  people  are  worthy  of  each  other,  and 
believing  that  the  hand  of  God  is  in  the  matter,  I  take  the  respon- 

206 


sibility  of  saying  that  if  there  are  any  present  who  object  to  their 
marriage,  say  so  here  and  now,  or  else  forever  hereafter  hold  their 
peace." 

"Amen,"  roared  the  coarse  voice  of  William  Dunson.  The 
speaker  waited  for  opposition,  but  as  none  was  offered,  he  con- 
tinued : 

''Victory  without  a  battle.  Then  as  our  good  Dr.  Therrauld 
is  an  ordained  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  is  duly  authorized  to 
issue  and  return  marriage  licenses,  he  will  prepare  the  papers  and 
perform  the  marriage  ceremony  I  claim  the  privilege  of  giving 
the  bride  away,  and  after  the  marriage  the  bride  and  bridegroom 
will  return  with  the  ladies  present  to  Mr.  Dunson 's  residence, 
where  we  all  feel  they  will  enjoy  themselves  as  becomes  this  inter- 
esting occasion." 

"Amen  and  amen!"  again  roared  Mr.  Dunson. 

All  the  young  girls  present  at  once  formed  into  two  parties; 
one,  led  by  Miss  Kathleen  Strother,  a  fine  Dutch  girl,  swept  and 
garnished  a  large  circle  with  "brushbrooms."  The  other,  led  by 
Miss  Eunice  Emory,  gathered  rabbit  pinks,  snowdrops,  ox-eye 
daisies,  forget-me-nots,  lady's  slippers  and  anemones,  and  scat- 
tered them  in  rich  profusion  all  over  the  "AVedding  Circle,"  as 
these  two  leaders  named  it.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  old-time 
people  had  no  sentiment.  In  whose  parlor  have  you  seen  a  higher 
order  of  sentiment  than  was  shown  by  the  Misses  Strother  and 
Emory  ? 

All  things  were  ready.  Save  the  barking  of  a  squirrel  in  the 
distant  forest,  and  the  drumming  of  a  yellow  hammer  on  a  dead 
tree  near  by,  all  was  hushed  in  silence  until  Dr.  Therrauld  arose 
and  said : 

"Let  us  pray." 

And  such  a  prayer!  In  speaking  of  it  afterAvards,  Mr.  Rogers 
said:  "It  seemed  like  all  heaven  and  all  earth  were  listening  to 
it."  At  the  conclusion,  Idalone  was  presented  to  William  as  "the 
precious  gift  of  her  father  and  mother."  He  led  her  to  the  charm- 
ing flower  circle,  and  then  and  there  they  were  made  one  by  the 
man  of  God.    They  ever  afterwards  lived  as  one — it  was  a  happy 

207 


union.  Many  hearty  congratulations  followed,  and  the  last  one 
was  somewhat  remarkable. 

The  big  Indian,  Anaxicorn,  though  not  a  resident,  was  sometimes 
seen  in  that  community.  Having  watched  the  proceedings  closely, 
he  took  a  small  package  from  his  belt,  and  holding  it  in  one  hand, 
fell  upon  his  knees  before  the  bride  and  offered  his  congratula- 
tions in  his  own  language.  The  following  is  a  full  translation  of 
all  he  said: 

"Indian  want  you  much  joy.  Take  this — make  man  moccasins 
with.    I  wanted  you  make  moccasins  for  me  wear." 

He  presented  the  small  package  to  the  bride  and  walked  away. 
He  was  never  again  seen  in  the  community.  No  one  had  ever 
thought  that  he,  too,  was  in  love  with  Miss  LeCain,  and  even 
wanted  her  to  make  his  shoes.  He,  however,  acted  generously 
about  the  matter,  for  the  little  package  contained  several  bone 
needles  of  different  sizes  and  two  small  balls  of  sinews  taken  from 
the  legs  of  the  red  deer,  then  so  common  in  the  country.  With 
these  the  natives  made  their  moccasins,  and  Anaxicorn  thought 
Brantly's  should  be  made  in  the  same  way. 

"How,"  some  may  ask,  "were  the  bride  and  bridegroom 
dressed?"  The  answer  is  easy.  The  bride  was  arrayed  in  a  dress, 
every  thread  of  which  had  been  carded,  spun,  woven,  cut  and 
made  with  her  own  hands.  It  was  of  white  and  black  wool  mixed, 
and  in  those  days  was  called  "flea-bitten"  cloth.  The  skirts  were 
more  ample  than  in  modern  times;  but  the  bodice  fitted  neatly 
over  a  superb  form. 

The  bridegroom  also  wore  a  "homespun"  suit,  made  from  start 
to  finish  by  Mrs.  Eliza  Boyd,  wife  of  Peter  Boyd,  who  sold  the 
land  on  which  to  build  the  famous  town  of  Jefferson.  It  was 
made,  as  then  called,  of  "walnut  dye"  jeans,  and  in  strict  accord- 
ance with  the  aristocratic  notions  of  the  day.  His  coat  was  a 
"claw  hammer,"  and  the  skirts  somewhat  resembled  a  wren's 
tail.  The  fit  was  good  and  brought  out  his  manly  form  to  great 
perfection. 

As  Mr.  Rogers  requested,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brantly  and  all  the 
ladies  present  went  to  the  Dunson  residence  where  it  soon  ap- 
peared that  the  bridegroom  was  as  good  with  the  needle  as  he  was 

208 


with  the  "handstick."  The  quilting  went  on  apace,  and  every- 
body was  happy. 

Uncle  Tom  once  more  carried  around  the  demijohn  and  water 
bucket.  Logrolling  was  resumed  until  noon,  when  all  adjourned 
to  dinner. 

And,  my !  my !  such  a  dinner.  There  were  no  candies,  bonbons, 
ice  cream,  or  milkshakes.  Perhaps  there  was  not  a  woman  there, 
young  or  old,  who  was  not  a  good  cook.  Mrs.  LeCain  was  there, 
Mrs.  Dunson's  mother,  Granny  Walker,  who  had  said  that  when 
she  "had  the  move-a-diddles  she  felt  like  she  had  the  jim-jams," 
and  other  good  cooks  were  there.  With  respect,  I  dare  say  that 
there  is  not  a  cook  in  the  state  that  can  make  such  ginger  cakes 
and  such  beer  as  Mrs.  LeCain  and  Granny  Walker  baked  and 
brewed  that  day. 

Old-time  johnny  cakes,  made  of  corn  meal,  baked  before  the 
fire  on  wooden  boards  made  for  the  purpose,  and  turned  and 
turned  until  they  were  cooked  through,  and  both  sides  without 
any  bottom  crust,  of  a  light-brown  color,  constituted  the  chief 
article  of  bread. 

Coffee,  used  only  on  rare  occasions  like  this,  milk,  chicory,  and 
sparkling  corn  beer  were  the  drinks  used. 

There  were  meats  galore,  boiled  ham,  roast  beef,  venison,  kid, 
mutton;  barbecued  shoats,  squirrels  and  turkeys;  boiled  chicken 
and  partridge ;  and  fish  and  turtle,  were  some  of  the  chief  courses. 

Such  a  dinner,  prepared  by  such  cooks,  and  for  more  than  fifty 
people,  all  strong  and  hearty,  hale  and  healthy,  was  indeed  "a 
thing  of  beauty  and  a  joy  forever." 

Contrary  to  modern  usage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brantly  waited  on  the 
tables,  and  with  good  grace  replied  to  the  many  jokes  thrown  at 
them. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  heaping  of  the  logs  was  completed, 
and  then  for  the  third  and  last  time  that  day,  the  demijohn  went 
around.  It  disappeared  without  leaving  a  sign  of  intemperance 
behind  it.    Supper  was  next  in  order. 

The  great  "new  ground"  awaited  only  the  burning  of  the  log 
heaps  to  be  ready  for  the  plow.  Such  clearings  continued  many 
years;  but  became  smaller  and  smaller  until  the  grand  old  forests, 

209 


with  their  "droves"  and  "gangs"  of  animal  life,  have  almost  dis- 
appeared ;  and  the  hamadryad,  which  is  said  to  die  with  the  tree 
it  lives  in,  the  regular  seasons,  the  uniform  fall  of  rain,  and  the 
equable  temperature  of  the  air  we  breathe,  have  all  gone  with 
them.  Our  once  valuable  chestnut  timber  and  the  spreading  grape 
vine  which  ran  upon  the  ground,  or  climbed  upon  the  tree,  some 
of  whose  fruit  was  more  delicious  than  any  found  in  modern 
vineyards,  have  also  gone  with  them. 

Most  of  the  few  remaining  forest  pines  are  taking  the  dry-rot, 
orchards  are  failing,  walnuts,  hickory  nuts,  and  acorns  are  smaller, 
and  water  in  springs,  wells,  branches,  creeks  and  rivers  is  be- 
coming less  and  less  every  year;  so  much  so,  that  the  historic  fish 
has  small  chance  to  live  in  this  country. 

While  all  these  things  were  going  other  things  have  been  com- 
ing. Long,  dry  summers,  irregular  rains,  malarial  diseases,  howl- 
ing storms  and  terrific  lightnings  are  more  frequent  and  severe 
than  when  breathing  forest  leaves  and  clear  running  water  equal- 
ized the  furies.  The  Colorado  beetle,  the  San  Jose  scale,  the  boll 
weevil,  the  curculio,  the  cabbage  snake  and  other  plant  and  tree 
life-destroyers  have  invaded  the  land  without  an  invitation,  and 
the  indications  are  that  they  have  come  to  stay. 

The  history  of  Greece,  Egypt,  Palestine  and  Spain  contains  full- 
page  illustrations  which  show  that  there  is  not  a  nation  on  the 
globe  which  has  not,  in  the  course  of  centuries,  declined  in  pro- 
portion to  the  disappearance  of  its  forests.  What  a  pity  that  our 
forefathers  did  not  study  the  improvement  of  land  instead  of  ex- 
posing such  a  vast  area  to  the  burning  sun  and  drying  winds. 


210 


CHAPTER  II. 
The  Dance  at  Dunson's  and  Preaching  at  The  School  House. 

With  the  return  of  the  logrollers  the  last  rays  of  the  setting 
sun,  coming  over  a  vast  extent  of  forest  reaching  all  the  way  to 
the  Pacific  shore,  brought  with  them  a  green-tinted  haze,  which, 
uniting  with  the  gold  of  the  sun  and  the  blue  of  the  sky,  spread 
a  glow  along  the  western  horizon  that  seemed  to  bathe  the  earth 
in  irridescent  vapor  everywhere.  As  this  began  to  disappear  in 
the  coming  darkness  supper  was  announced. 

As  usual,  the  quilting  was  greatly  enjoyed  by  all.  The  ladies 
threaded  their  needles  and  talked,  quilted  and  talked,  "laid  off 
shells"  and  talked,  "rolled  the  quilt"  and  talked,  "cut  threads" 
and  talked,  and  talked,  until  there  came  a  thoughtful  pause.  This 
was  finally  broken  by  Mrs.  Emory,  Eunice's  mother,  saying 
slowly  : 

"Did  you  ever!  Married  a  man  to  whom  she  never  spoke  be- 
fore, and  on  short  notice,  at  that!" 

"No,  I  never!  Though  as  Brother  Eogers  says  he  is  all  right, 
and  is  such  a  splendid-looking  fellow,  for  my  part,  can  not  say  that 
Idalone  is  to  blame,"  said  another. 

"No,  not  to  blame;  but  I  should  have  wanted  a  longer  court- 
ship— there's  lot's  of  fun  in  courting,"  said  still  another. 

"To  be  married  in  the  woods,  under  a  great  spreading  tree,  on  a 
lovely  carpet  of  flowers,  love,  courtship  and  marriage,  all  in  less 
than  an  hour,  and  at  a  logrolling  at  that,  is  no  everyday  business. 
As  for  me  I  don't  blame  Idalone  one  bit,"  said  Miss  Medoline 
Callahan,  whose  family  name  is  still  well  known. 

"Neither  do  I.  It  is  really  so  romantic  that  I  want  my  wedding, 
if  I  ever  have  one,  to  be  just  like  Idalone 's,"  said  Blanche  Chan- 
dler, whose  family  name  is  also  extensively  known. 

"That  is  all  right,  but  this  quilt  will  soon  be  finished ;  and  it  will 
take  all  the  girls  here  to  wrap  it  around  Mr.  Dunson  and  carry 
him  to  supper.  So  let's  talk  about  that ;  there's  lots  of  fun  ahead. 
What  you  say,  girls?"  asked  Mrs.  Mildred  Gathright,  wife  of 

211 


Miles  Gathright,  who  was  the  first  settler  on  the  banks  of  the 
Oconee  below  the  present  iron  bridge. 

It  may  be  explained  here  that  on  all  similar  occasions  it  was 
customary  to  wrap  the  new  quilt  around  the  gentleman  of  the 
house,  seat  him  at  the  table,  and  serve  him  while  the  guests  were 
taking  their  places.  All  knew  that  Mr.  Dunson  would  resist  this 
part  of  the  ceremony  ''just  for  the  fun  of  the  thing,"  and  he  was 
so  big  and  strong  that  he  was  sometimes  dreaded. 

By  and  by  the  quilt  was  unrolled,  the  supper  tables  were  ready, 
but  Mr.  Dunson  could  not  be  found.  He  had  concealed  himself. 
At  last  he  was  discovered  in  the  barn,  and  such  a  scuffle  followed 
that  the  cows  jumped  out  of  the  cowpen  and  ran  to  the  woods. 
He  finally  submitted,  however,  the  quilt  was  closely  wrapped 
around  his  huge  form,  and  to  the  tune  ''Granny  Will  Your  Dog 
Bite?"  he  was  marched  to  the  head  of  the  table.  He  was  bounti- 
fully supplied  with  good  things,  and  to  use  the  words  of  one  who 
was  present,  "he  looked  like  a  bear  sitting  on  the  stump  of  a 
bee-tree  licking  of  his  chops."  He  was  a  dark  man  of  august  pres- 
ence. 

Supper  was  over  and  the  new  quilt  carefully  folded  away.  The 
services  of  Jim  Beasly,  "the  breakdown"  fiddler  of  the  times, 
had  been  secured  to  furnish  music  for  the  coming  dance,  which  was 
to  begin  at  8  o'clock,  sharp.  The  great  house-clock,  some  seven 
feet  high,  was  closely  watched.  The  long  pendulum  moved  back 
and  forth  in  measured  swing  until  the  appointed  hour  was  nearly 
reached.  Jim  Beasley  began  to  tighten  his  fiddle  strings.  He 
"tuned  and  tuned"  until  the  desired  tension  was  reached. 
As  a  matter  of  respect,  it  was  not  customary  for  women  to 
enter  the  first  dance.  Eight  men,  four  sets,  led  by  Brantly,  stood 
upon  the  floor.  Sque-squa-squo-ske-e-e-au-au-squeak !  went  the 
fiddle.  "Face  your  partners"  called  the  leader,  and  to  the  air 
of  "Billy  in  the  Low  Ground,"  the  first  dance  was 
on.  It  was  a  rigadoon,  and  round  and  round  went  the  men. 
Passed  through  opposite  ranks,  and  then  dashed  on  with  the 
"double-shuffle,"  "jump  jim  crow,"  "cut  the  pigeon  Aving, "  and 
the  "hop  over  the  moon,"  to  the  finish, 

212 


Men  looked  on  with  their  hands  in  their  pockets,  women  patted 
their  feet;  all  eager  "to  trip  their  own  light,  fantastic  toes."  Old 
Terpsichore  had  turned  loose  his  jolly  forces. 

The  next  dance  was  called  the  Laedan,  or  Leader.  It  required 
only  one  performer,  who  was  expected  to  illustrate  every  distinct 
movement  or  step  to  be  taken  that  night.  The  man  selected  for 
that  purpose  was  Toby  Bradshaw,  commonly  called  Tobe  Bratcher. 
He  was  a  small  man  of  wonderful  activity  and  well  versed  in  the 
mazes  of  the  dance. 

Again  the  fiddle  gave  the  signal  and  Tobe  flitted  across  the 
floor  like  a  phantom,  and  to  the  tune  of  "Sally  in  the  Wildwoods," 
illustrated  the  next  dance,  called  the  Bolero.  AVhen  through  with 
the  round  dance,  he  bowed,  and  stood  to  one  side.  This  was  the 
signal  for  all  the  ladies  who  intended  to  dance  that  night  to  ar- 
range themselves  in  a  circle,  and  in  such  order  that  the  leader,  or 
teacher,  could  pass  around  and  between  them,  and  thus  readily 
see  all  they  were  expected  to  do  themselves.  When  through, 
Tobe  gave  a  forward  and  backward  movement,  so  quick  and  intri- 
cate that  the  step  was  called,  * '  do  it  if  you  can. ' ' 

That  closed  the  object  lesson,  and  it  was  well  given.  Then  small 
bronzed  pitchers  containing  something  to  drink  went  round.  All, 
men,  women  and  children,  drank  heartily;  but  it  was  metheglin, 
a  delicious  beverage  made  of  clear  spring  water,  honey  and  spice. 

A  running  conversation  followed,  and  then  came  the  Bolero.  9 
chair  was  placed  on  a  table  at  one  end  of  the  room,  and  to  this 
elevated  seat  Tobe  Bratcher  was  lifted  by  Natty  Gore,  who  handed 
him  a  long  wand  made  of  turkey  feathers.  This  he  waved  around 
his  head,  and  then  brought  it  to  an  upright  position  between  his 
feet.  This  was  the  beginning  signal.  Beasly's  long-drawn  bow 
and  Tobe's  gently  waiving  wand,  say,  "all  is  ready."  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Brantly  led  the  van,  and  away  and  away  they  go  to  the 
mellow,  persuasive  strains  of  "Over  the  Hills  and  Far  Away." 
Still  on  they  rush  in  perfect  order  and  in  rhythmic  time,  the  wand 
is  waved  quickly  back  and  forth,  the  speed  increases,  Jim  Beasly 
is  in  all  his  glory,  his  fiddle  trembles  to  the  vibrations  of  its 
music,  the  floor  heaves  up  and  down,  dogs,  sitting  on  the  doorsteps, 
howl ;  cats,  with  hair  erect,  leave  the  room,  and  the  crickets  hush. 

213 


The  company  becomes  unconscious  of  all  things  else;  the  dancers 
are  electrified,  the  wand  directs  all  in  utter  silence,  and  the  dogs 
howl  on. 

Finally  the  wand  was  again  brought  to  a  perpendicular  and  the 
dance  closed.  Everybody  was  in  a  good  humor,  and  Mr.  Dunson 
threw  great  chunks  of  meat  to  the  dogs  to  stop  the  howling.  A 
general  conversation  followed  and  perhaps  some  particular  court- 
ing, as  that  very  night  William  Howington  and  George  Wilson 
fell  in  love  with  the  girls  whom  they  afterwards  married. 

Thus  the  exercises  continued,  unabated,  until  old  Chanticleer, 
from  some  distant  tree-top,  announced  the  coming  day,  Jim 
Beasly  wrapped  his  fiddle  in  a  blanket,  Tobe  Bratcher  came  down 
from  his  perch,  and  reluctantly  most  of  the  assembled  guests  be- 
gan to  disperse.  Not  one  of  them  was  in  any  way  under  the  in- 
fluence of  strong  drink ;  nor  had  any  girl  there  ever  seen  a  young 
man  drunk,  or  with  a  hip-pocket  in  his  trousers. 

The  foregoing  is  given  as  an  illustration  of  life  in  old  times ;  and 
it  yet  remains  to  give  some  further  account  of  those  mentioned  as 
actors  in  them. 

About  half  mile  east  of  S.  W.  Jackson's  mill,  there  was  a  small 
log  cabin  in  which  W.  T.  Brantly  had  taught  school,  and  there 
Revs.  Therrauld  and  Rogers  had  an  appointment  to  preach  on  the 
night  of  the  dance.  Being  amply  provided  with  a  supply  of  good 
things,  they  left  the  logrolling  in  time  to  reach  the  school  house 
about  sundown.  Though  on  foot  they  had  their  blankets  and 
provisions  with  them,  and  the  country  being  thinly  settled  they 
prepared  to  stay  all  night.  Of  course  they  expected  a  small  con- 
gregation, for  there  were  not  enough  people  within  a  reasonable 
distance  to  make  a  large  one. 

Having  eaten  their  supper  and  swept  the  house  with  pine-top 
brooms,  they  separated  and  went  to  the  woods  to  pray.  Imagine 
two  such  men,  in  the  fast-gathering  darkness  of  a  wilderness,  at 
prayer  amid  its  dismal  solitude.  It  seems  much  like  the  custom  of 
their  Divine  Leader,  who  ''went  into  a  mountain  apart  to  pray." 

While  thus  engaged  the  few. people  in  the  country  began  to  as- 
semble, and  the  preachers  gladly  joined  them.  After  services  it 
was  found  that  every  man  and  woman  present,  except  two  or 


three  who  were  already  members,  joined  the  church,  some  to  go  to 
Cabin  Creek,  where  Mr.  Rogers  was  pastor,  others  to  Oconee 
where  Dr.  Therrauld  had  charge. 

It  was  at  this  meeting  in  the  woods  that  the  well-known  Capt. 
Tom  Stapler,  father  of  Jetf  Stapler,  Esq.,  of  Newton,  joined  the 
church,  and  afterwards  became  one  of  the  standard  bearers  of 
Cabin  Creek.  He  had  a  good  practical  education,  taught  school, 
and  in  other  capacities  served  the  public  faithfully. 

It  was  the  Capt.  Tom  Stapler  who,  during  the  alarmingly  dry 
summer  of  1845,  proposed  to  turn  a  regular  meeting  into  a  prayer 
service,  and  pray  for  rain  exclusively.  Strange,  some  of  the  mem- 
bers objected,  but  Mr.  Stapler  succeeded  in  having  a  prayer- 
meeting  appointed  for  the  next  service. 

Rev.  Jesse  Human  who  lived  near  where  Mountain  Creek  church 
now  stands,  was  pastor  at  Cabin  Creek,  and  as  he  ascended  the 
pulpit  steps  to  offer  the  first  intercessory  prayer.  Brother  Stapler, 
in  a  voice  louder  than  he  had  ever  before  spoken  in  a  church, 
cried  out,  ''Pray  for  a  soaker,  Brother  Human."  Let  unbelievers 
scoff  if  they  will ;  but  it  soon  rained,  and  the  people  made  enough 
corn  that  year  to  tide  them  on  to  another. 

It  was  also  this  Capt.  Tom  Stapler,  who  as  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  learn,  was  the  only  man  ever  summoned  to  appear  before 
any  tribunal  in  this  country  to  answer  to  the  charge  of  being  a 
Free  Mason. 

Though  some  twenty-tive  years  after  Western  New  York  was 
agitated  by  the  "Morgan  heresy,"  as  it  was  called,  an  account  of 
it,  though  dead  in  its  own  house,  reached  the  ears  of  the  most  in- 
consistent members  of  Cabin  Creek  church.  Believing  all  they 
had  heard  was  true,  and  wanting  to  believe  it,  and  being  joined  by 
others,  they  caused  Brother  Stapler  to  be  cited  "to  appear  before 
the  church  in  conference  assembled,  to  then  and  there  answer  to 
the  charge  of  being  a  Free  Mason,  contrary  to  the  teaching  and 
belief  of  said  church." 

The  contest  was  long,  and,  in  some  respects  bitter.  Rank  con- 
tentions seemed  to  be  hovering  in  the  air.  Unity  Lodge  of  Jeffer- 
son, of  which  brother  Stapler  was  a  member,  went  to  his  assist- 
ance.   Other  lodges  sent  their  ablest  members  consisting  of  min- 

215 


isters  of  the  gospel,  lawyers,  and  high-school  and  college  profes- 
sors, to  help  him.  Here  came  another  difficulty  as  hard  to  decide 
as  the  other.  Should  these  "outsiders"  be  admitted  to  the  con- 
ference was  the  question.  After  a  sharp  contest  the  church  by  a 
small  majority  permitted  them  "to  talk  but  not  vote." 

And  they  did  talk.  They  had  not  come  with  any  expectation 
of  voting.  After  a  defense  perhaps  as  able  as  any  ever  made  in 
the  country,  the  defendant  went  forth,  as  he  so  richly  deserved, 
a  member  of  the  church  and  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  good  stand- 
ing.   At  last  in  ripe  old  age,  he  approached  his  grave — 

"Like  one  who  wraps  the  drapery  of  his  couch 
About  him,  and  lies  down  to  pleasant  dreams." 

— Bryant. 

The  fraternity  which  he  so  well  and  so  faithfully  exemplified, 
buried  him  with  Masonic  honors  in  the  latter  sixties  of  the  last 
century. 

Dr.  Henry  Therrauld,  as  shown  elsewhere,  was  one  of  the  lead- 
ing spirits  at  Tumbling  Shoals.  As  no  account  of  his  untimely 
death  could  be  given  there,  an  outline  of  the  sad  incident  may  be 
stated  here.  Though  only  a  few  friendly  Indians  remained  in  the 
immediate  vicinity,  quite  a  number  who  were  openly  hostile,  roved 
along  the  western  borders,*  now  in  Hall  County.  They  had  never 
forgiven  the  "pale-faces"  for  shedding  blood  on  their  "holy 
ground,"  nor  had  their  chief,  Wautowauto,  abandoned  his  pur- 
pose to  recapture  the  white  girls.  Flora  Clover  and  Susan  Bing- 
ham, whom  he  had  stolen  from  their  parents  at  Yamacutah. 

A  few  weeks  after  the  meeting  at  the  Brantly  school  house,  a 
party  of  fifteen  Indians  were  seen  to  enter  the  dense  canebreak 
which  grew  on  both  sides  of  the  river  a  little  above  the  Hurricane 
Shoals.  The  ever  wide-awake  citizens  of  Tumbling  Shoals  rushed 
to  their  arms,  and  in  a  short  time  a  company  of  twenty  determined 
men,  led  by  the  heroic  Henry  Therrauld,  marched  up  the  river  to 
find  them.  Jordan  Clark  and  John  Harris  were  sent  out  as  scouts 
and  in  the  early  part  of  the  afternoon  reported  that  the  foe  was 

♦Charles  H.  Smith's  "History  of  Georgia,"  page  53.— Ed. 

216 


encamped  about  the  center  of  the  canebreak,  and  that  sentinels 
were  on  the  outskirs.  It  was  then  seen  that  the  enemy  intended 
to  remain  there  until  night,  and  from  thence  make  their  intended 
assault  upon  the  Shoals  after  dark. 

After  consultation,  the  leader  determined  to  post  his  men  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  and  attack  the  Indians  as  they  emerged 
from  their  hiding  place.  While  cautiously  selecting  a  position  on 
the  hill  which  overlooks  the  Shoals  from  the  north,  they  were  seen 
going  up  the  western  bank  of  the  river  in  full  retreat.  By  some 
unknown  means  they  had  become  alarmed.  Immediate  pursuit 
was  ordered,  and  when,  after  a  long  chase  it  was  found  they  were 
about  to  be  overtaken,  they  crossed  the  river  about  where  Dixon's 
bridge  now  is  and  made  a  stand  among  the  very  large  trees  which 
grew  a  few  hundred  yards  above  the  crossing.  They  had  doubt- 
less left  the  canebrake  because  there  was  no  such  protection  there. 
Finding,  as  he  expected,  that  the  Indians  were  shielded  by 
large  trees,  he  divided  his  men  into  two  squads,  one  led  by  Jordan 
Clark,  going  to  the  left.  To  prevent  the  danger  of  killing  each 
other  from  opposite  sides,  it  was  understood  that  no  firing  was  to 
be  done  when  the  squads  were  in  range  with  the  enemy,  and  that 
every  possible  advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  trees. 

It  was  known  that  the  few  firearms  carried  by  the  foe  were 
almost  worthless  in  their  hands,  and  that  the  tomahawk  would  be 
held  for  closer  quarters.  Poisoned  arrows  were  of  greatest  con- 
cern, though  at  the  time  even  that  was  not  thought  of. 

The  order  to  advance  was  given;  a  flight  of  arrows  whizzed 
through  the  air.  These  did  little  damage,  and  on  went  the  men. 
The  tactics  were  new,  even  to  the  Indians.  The  trees  offered 
but  little  protection.  There  was  an  enemy  on  both  sides,  and  one 
of  the  foe  fell  at  every  crack  of  the  rifle.  Having  noticed  that  no 
enemy  was  to  be  seen  at  an  unusually  large  tree,  Dr.  Therrauld 
heedlessly  went  near  it.  As  he  did  so,  a  long  arm  was  seen  to 
reach  out  from  the  tree,  and  at  the  same  instant  a  tomahawk  went 
crashing  into  his  brain.  The  tree  was  hollow,  and  the  Indian, 
Wautowauto,  had  concealed  himself  in  it.  John  Harris,  next  in 
rear  of  his  leader,  threw  an  axe  which  he  carried  in  his  belt,  at  the 

217 


chief,  and  his  bowels  gushed  out  and  fell  at  his  feet  before  his 
body  fell  on  them. 

The  death  of  their  leader  so  maddened  his  followers  that  they 
made  such  a  furious  charge  that  every  Indian,  except  two  or  three 
who  saved  themselves  by  flight,  was  slain,  and  several  of  these 
were  shot  when  at  full  speed. 

Dale  Clover,  Hiram  Bingham  and  James  Montgomery  were 
badly,  but  not  fatally  hurt.  Several  others  whose  names  are  un- 
known were  slightly  hurt.  Wautowauto,  instigator  of  all  the  mis- 
chief, was  left  as  he  fell  in  the  hollow  of  the  tree.  His  bones  were 
still  there  when  Mr.  Hinson  Barr  moved  to  that  community  some 
time  in  the  thirties.  The  other  Indians  were  buried  in  a  flat  now 
in  cultivation,  and  where  I  have  myself  found  various  relics  of  the 
older  time.  The  spot  is  near  the  ancient  Nauhata,*  an  Indian 
town,  where  the  aborigines  of  this  county  had  many  sanguinary 
conflicts  before  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  ever  trod  its  soil. 

The  almost  idolized  body  of  Dr.  Therrauld  was  carefully,  ten- 
derly, lovingly  carried  to  Tumbling  Shoals,  and,  on  top  of  the  hill 
leading  to  the  north,  was  buried  somewhere  near  the  spot  where 
an  unfrequented  road  passes  the  south  corner  of  Mr.  Davis'  cotton 
field,  where  about  one  year  ago,  I  gladly  noticed  that,  in  all  prob- 
ability, no  ploughshare  had  passed  over  his  hallowed  grave  to 
mark  it  for  its  own. 

Perhaps  Mr.  Davis,  or  any  one  else  in  the  community,  does  not 
know  that  he  may  sometimes  walk  over  such  sacred  dust.  Tread 
softly,  brother,  for — 

"Then  shall  the  good  stand  in  immortal  bloom, 

In  the  fair  gardens  of  that  second  birth; 

And  each  bright  blossom  mingle  its  perfume 

With  that  of  flowers,  which  never  bloomed  on  earth." 

— Longfellow. 

Rev.  James  Rogers  was  a  native  Georgian,  and  came  to  this 
country  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century.    He  became  a  prom- 

•Note:  The  Editor  visited  the  site  of  the  town,  Nauhata,  in  1914.  It  is 
a  short  distance  above  Dixon  bridge  about  three  miles  west  of  Maysville, 
Ga.  The  land  is  now  owned  by  Mr.  T.  N.  HighfiU.  We  also  saw  the  Indian 
"flood  gauge."    It  is  a  large  bowlder  of  granite  just  below  the  bridge.    It 

218 


inent  minister  of  the  gospel  in  early  life  and  from  the  beginning 
devoted  himself  to  his  high  calling  with  a  fervency  and  zeal  which 
knew  of  no  abatement.  As  shown  by  his  conduct  at  the  logrolling, 
he  was  a  born  leader,  and  always  led  to  the  satisfaction  of  others. 
In  some  of  his  views  he  was  far  in  advance  of  the  times  in  which 
he  lived,  and,  realizing  this,  he  often  said  he  was  "born  too  soon." 
Denominational  strife  was  common  and  very  bitter  in  those  days, 
and  both  he  and  his  co-laborer.  Dr.  Therrauld,  were  always  conser- 
vative and  peaceful  along  these  lines.  These  two  noble  men  were 
the  first  to  sow  the  seeds  of  "peace  and  good  will  toward  men" 
in  Jackson  County ;  and  though  they  fell  at  first  on  stony  ground, 
they  finally  began  to  spring  up  and  grew  into  great  trees  under 
whose  shades  all  classes  may  now  meet  and  ask  blessings  of  their 
common  Heavenly  Father. 

While  I  do  not  believe  that  Clotho  and  her  other  companions 
have  any  control  over  the  destinies  of  men,  there  is  One  who 
"shapes  our  ends;"  and  for  some  good  reason  these  two  leading 
pioneer  ministers  were  taken,  seemingly,  in  the  prime  of  their 
glory  and  usefulness. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Therrauld,  Mr.  Rogers  became  pastor  at 
Oconee,  where  he,  like  his  predecessor,  became  much  beloved. 
Some  years  after,  when  on  his  way  to  an  appointment,  an  old  tree 
killed  him  and  the  horse  he  was  riding.  The  tree  stood  some 
three  hundred  yards  west  of  the  S.  W.  Jackson  mill,  and  a  little 
over  half  a  mile  from  the  Brantly  school  house.  An  hour  or 
two  before  Mr.  Rogers  was  killed,  Hardy  Rose,  while  passing, 
noticed  that  the  old  tree  was  leaning  unusually  far  towards  the 
road.  He  made  several  efforts  to  push  it  down,  but  failing,  passed 
on  without  a  thought  of  what  was  so  soon  to  take  place. 

This  pioneer  preacher,  James  Rogers,  was  the  grandfather  of 
J.  B.  Rogers  of  Jefferson,  [now  Maysville]  and  were  he  living  to- 
day would  be  proud  to  own  his  grandson  as  the  worthy  descendent 
of  a  noble  sire. 

18  said  that  wlien  any  unusual  rise  in  the  river  occurred,  the  Indians  would 
mark  the  height  to  which  the  water  rose  by  drilling  a  hole  in  the  big 
rock.  However  the  greater  part  of  this  "flood  gauge"  was  used  in  the 
eonatructiou  of  the  new  bridge  that  now  spans  the  river. 

219 


CHAPTER  III. 
Brantly  Carries  His  Bride  to  Jefferson. 

William  T.  Brantly  carried  his  bride  to  Jefferson  on  the  third 
day  after  their  marriage.  They  went  on  an  ox  cart  drawn  by  two 
huge  oxen  called  Buck  and  Ball,  and  carried  with  them  such 
household  property  as  the  LeCain's  could  afford  to  give  them. 
They  lived  in  a  small  house  near  the  white  oak  spring,  a  spot 
which  has  witnessed  many  curious  things.  Mr.  Brantly  was  a 
school  teacher,  and  also  hunter  and  farmer.  Mrs.  Brantly  fol- 
lowed her  home  life,  picked  seed  out  of  cotton  with  her  fingers, 
carded,  spun  and  wove  the  lint,  and  of  the  cloth  she  cut  and  made 
her  own  and  her  husband's  clothes.  There  is  good  evidence  that 
they  all  had  the  appearance  of  being  tailor  made.  To  show  her 
appreciation  of  Anaxicorn's  curious  wedding  gift,  she  made  moc- 
casins of  deer  skin  and  ornamented  them  with  pretty  designs  in 
needle  work ;  all  for  her  husband,  and  he  was  proud  to  wear  them 
on  public  occasions. 

Being  an  educated  man,  Mr.  Brantly  finally  sought  a  field  more 
favorable  to  his  growing  reputation,  and  about  1820,  moved  to 
Richmond  County,  where,  for  want  of  further  information,  I 
leave  him.  This  was  a  distinct  loss  to  the  county.  He,  however, 
had  a  cousin  of  the  same  name,  Rev.  W.  T.  Brantly,  who  in  the 
early  fifties  was  a  professor  in  Franklin  College,  and  at  the  same 
time  pastor  of  Cabin  Creek  Church.  Being  called  to  a  pastorate 
in  Philadelphia,  he  died  there  a  few  years  later. 

As  the  use  of  oxen  is  not  so  common  as  in  old  times,  it  may  be 
interesting  to  the  young  reader  to  know  something  more  of  them. 
A  3^oke  of  oxen  was  then  called  *'owsen,"  as  used  in  Scotland 
and  the  North  of  England  to  this  time.  They  were  almost  ex- 
clusively used  as  draft  animals.  Horses  only  drew  the  plow — 
mules  were  unknown.  The  oxen  which  carried  Mr.  Brantly  and 
his  bride  to  their  new  home  were  unusually  large.  The  spread  of 
their  horns  was  so  great  that  they  knocked  against  each  other  at 
almost  every  step  so  loudly  that  one  on  the  road  knew  that  the 

220 


LeCain  oxen  were  coming  before  they  were  seen.  In  after  years 
William  Nash,  one  of  the  most  famous  fox-hunters  in  the  country, 
gave  a  cow  and  calf  for  one  of  these  horns,  and  Ras  Stonum,  his 
brother-in-law,  gave  a  Ledford  rifle  and  eleven  ducks  for  its  mate. 
These  gentlemen  were  of  first-class  families,  and  great  uncles  of 
Hon.  T.  J.  Shackelford  of  Athens. 

For  reasons  that  may  hereafter  appear,  I  have  ever  had  a  desire 
to  know  just  what  was  the  fate  of  the  house  in  which  Brantly  lived 
at  White  Oak  Spring;  but  have  only  learned  that  it  was  torn  down 
and  moved  away ;  where,  I  do  not  know.  It  was  standing  in  1842, 
the  year  in  which  James  Swetman  was  hanged  for  the  murder  of 
Tom  White.  On  that  day  I  was  standing  on  the  doorsill,  thinking, 
in  boyish  fashion,  of  all  I  had  ever  heard  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brantly ; 
and,  while  trying  to  compare  their  absence  with  what  must  have 
been  their  presence,  the  lines  of  a  poem,  which  I  had  recently  been 
trying  to  learn  came  into  my  mind  and  I  repeated  them  aloud : 

"Hark!  as  my  lingering  footsteps  slow  retire 

Some  spirit  of  the  air  has  waked  thy  string! 

'Tis  now  a  seraph  bold,  with  touch  of  fire, 
'Tis  now  the  brush  of  fairy 's  frolic  wing, 
Eeceding  now,  the  dying  members  ring 

Fainter  and  fainter  down  the  rugged  dell. 

And  now  the  mountain  breezes  scarcely  bring 

A  wandering  witch-note  of  the  distant  spell — 

And  now,  'tis  silent  all! — Enchantress,  fare  thee  well." 

—Scott. 

While  repeating  the  last  line,  with  all  the  sadness  I  could  com- 
mand, I  heard  a  little  old  dried-up-looking  man  say,  "That  boy  is 
distracted  and  ought  to  be  put  in  the  calaboose."  I  did  not  know 
just  what  a  calaboose  was,  but  thinking  it  something  bad,  I  and 
my  companion,  Newton  Barron,  a  great,  loose-jointed  boy,  left  for 
home  without  further  warning. 

As  we  passed  near  the  jail,  which  stood  where  Dr.  Walter 
Smith's  office  now  is,  we  noticed  that  the  door  was  open,  and  the 
great,  ponderous  shutter  swaying  back  and  forth  in  the  wind. 
Finding  that  the  little  old  man  was  not  following  us,  we  cau- 
tiously entered  the  gloomy  house,  and  no  one  else  being  in  there 
we  roamed  at  will.    The  first  thing  noticed  was  a  tin  plate  placed 

221 


on  a  joist  overhead.  I  took  it  down  and  found  that  it  contained 
two  rashers  of  fried  bacon,  and  three  dark  biscuits.  From  one  bis- 
cuit a  single  bite  had  been  taken,  leaving  the  imprint  of  four 
teeth,  a  gap  being  between  the  first  and  third,  showing  that  one 
front  tooth  was  missing.  The  poor  fellow  who  had  just  been  hung 
had  doubtless  taken  only  one  bite  for  his  breakfast  that  morning, 
and  the  sign  left  by  his  teeth  is  now  as  plainly  seen  in  memory  as 
it  was  then  seen  with  my  eyes.  While  I  was  pondering  over  this 
silent  reminder  of  a  sad  fate  and  Newt  Barron  was  peeping  into 
the  gloomy  dungeon  below,  the  door  shutter  closed  with  a  loud 
bang,  and,  as  we  thought,  the  little  old  man  had  us  at  last.  We 
both  jumped.  Newt  came  near  falling  into  the  dungeon,  the  bis- 
cuits went  rolling  over  the  floor,  and  we  rushed  for  the  door.  The 
shutter  readily  yielded ;  the  wind  had  closed  it,  and  seeing  nothing 
of  our  supposed  enemy,  we  hastened  away. 

Gendelph  LeCain  was  of  Frcftich  descent,  belonged  to  an  aristo- 
cratic family,  and  had  a  liberal  education.  His  character  for 
truth  and  fair  dealing  was  never  called  in  question,  which,  to- 
gether with  his  immense  physical  powers,  gave  him  a  hearty  wel- 
come into  a  new  country  where  hardy  manhood  was  required. 
Coming  from  Albemarle  County,  Va.,  the  family  claimed  much 
friendship  for  Thomas  Jefferson,  the  sage  of  Monticello ;  and  Mr. 
LeCain  insisted  on  doing  things  much  like  Mr.  Jefferson  did.  For 
instance,  he  wore  red  "breeches,"  and  hitched  his  horse  to  a  short 
peg  driven  in  the  ground  for  the  purpose,  as  Mr.  Jefferson  is  said 
to  have  done,  even  in  from  of  the  capitol  at  Washington.  The 
entire  family  was  greatly  devoted  to  each  other,  and  when  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brantly  moved  away  Mr.  and  Mrs.  LeCain  went  with 
them.  Here  was  another  great  loss  to  the  county,  and  the  places 
which  once  knew  them  so  well  knew  them  no  more. 

William  Dunson,  having  shown  himself  to  be  a  successful  farmer 
and  a  substantial  citizen,  moved  to  Troup  County,  Georgia,  in  the 
early  thirties,  where  he  became  a  large  planter.  He  returned  only 
one  time,  and  wearing  an  elegant  suit  of  black  broadcloth  which 
cost  him  $14  per  yard,  he  made  a  fine  appearance.  Though  proud, 
he  was  not  haughty,  and  those  who  lived  near  him  said  he  was 

222 


"one  of  the  best  neighbors  in  the  world."    He  left  four  sons  here, 
and  some  of  their  descendents  are  still  living  in  the  county. 

It  is  curious  to  know  that  Linton  Dunson,  a  great-grandson  of 
William  Dunson,  married  Miss  Sallie  Rogers,  a  great  grand- 
daughter of  Rev.  James  Rogers,  and  they,  too,  live  here. 

Thus  the  race  still  continues,  but  all  the  old  folks  are  gone.  Life 
is  a  continual  stream  ever  freighted  with  passengers  bound  for 
eternity !  How  vast  the  sweep  of  its  dismal  tide  from  Abel,  the 
first  passenger,  to  the  last  who  "shall  take  his  chamber  in  the 
silent  halls  of  death." 

George  Wilson,  a  near  neighbor  and  close  friend  of  William 
Dunson,  was  a  native  of  Dublin,  Ireland,  where  he  was  educated. 
He  came  from  Iredell  County,  N.  C,  to  this  part  of  the  country  in 
1784,  only  a  few  months  after  the  first  settlement  at  Tumbling 
Shoals.  He  was  a  master  workman  at  almost  any  trade  known 
to  the  times,  and  only  a  few  years  ago  a  chimney  which  he  built 
was  torn  down  by  an  unappreciative  hand.  I  have  heard  it  said 
that  the  men  who  located  Jefferson  were  drunk ;  but  *George  Wil- 
son, James  Pittman  and  Josiah  Easley,  the  committee  who  located 
the  place,  did  not  drink  at  all,  were  never  drunk  in  their  lives. 
I  prophesy  that  within  the  next  decade  Jefferson  will  become  one 
of  the  most  beautiful  towns  in  the  country.  The  contour  of  the 
land  and  the  ready  water  supply  are  eminently  favorable  to  this 
view.  A  reasonable  sum  of  money  at  the  disposal  of  a  competent 
engineer  is  all  that  is  needed.  This  little  digression  is  not  at  all  in 
the  way,  because  it  gives  the  truth. 

George  Wilson  was  also  largely  instrumental  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  Sandy  Creek  Presbyterian  church,  and  was  one  of  its  first 
Ruling  Elders.  W.  T.  Brantly  and  all  the  LeCain  family  were 
members  of  that  church.  Being  elected  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion called  to  revise  the  constitution  of  the  state,  he  at  once  be- 
came a  leader,  and  finally  wrote  and  signed  the  revision  made. 

A  giant  himself,  he  was  greatly  interested  in  the  Dunson  log- 
rolling, and  dearly  loved  to  see  "the  boys,"  as  he  called  them,  put 
forth  their  strength.    He  clapped  his  hands  and  shouted  when  he 

*George  Wilson,  James  Pittman  with  Joseph  Humphries  were  delegates 
to  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1798,  from  this  county.— Ed. 

223 


saw  that  Idalone  LeCain's  last  step  with  her  heavy  burden  was 
just  as  firm  and  steady  as  her  first  one  had  been,  and  that  she  was 
still  uneonquered,  even  by  so  powerful  a  man  as  his  Brother 
Brantly. 

The  big  poplar  log  on  the  flat  rock  was  also  of  much  interest  to 
Mr.  Wilson,  and  so  was  Franklin  College,  at  Athens,  then  strug- 
gling under  great  difficulties,  into  existence.  By  Mr.  Dunson's 
ready  permission,  he  had  the  log  sawed  into  lumber  with  what 
was  called  a  rip-saw.  A  pit  was  dug  near  the  rock,  the  log  was 
rolled  over  it,  one  man  stood  in  the  pit,  two  or  more  upon  a  plat- 
form above,  and  pulled  and  pushed  a  long  saw,  having  horizontal 
handles,  up  and  down  until  a  line  was  sawed.  This  was  a  slow  and 
laborious  process;  and  consequently,  then,  when  timber  was  in  the 
way,  it  was  a  much  more  difficult  matter  to  get  sawed  lumber  than 
it  is  now  when  there  is  so  little  timber  to  be  found. 

Being  a  college  man  himself,  George  "Wilson  wanted  to  do 
something  for  Franklin  College,  not  in  a  financial  way,  but  as  a 
memorial  of  it.  Accordingly,  he  sent  three  cart-loads  of  his 
poplar  lumber  to  Athens,  and  it  became  some  part  of  a  house 
which  was  then  being  built  on  the  college  campus.  As  far  back 
as  the  fifties,  I  made  many  efforts  to  trace  this  lumber  further, 
but  w^as  unable  to  find  any  part  of  it.  He  also  sent  a  fourth  cart- 
load to  Jefferson,  and  Mr.  Brantly  made  a  loft  in  his  house  with 
it.  I  stood  under  it  when  I  made  my  "distracted"  recitation 
from  Scott,  and  hence  my  desire  to  know  what  became  of  the 
house. 

In  old  age,  when  the  machinery  was  run  down,  and  not  of  dis- 
ease, George  Wilson  died,  and  was  buried  in  sight  of  the  flat  rock 
on  which  he  stood  and  shouted  for  very  gladness  when  Idalone 
LeCain  achieved  her  victory. 

Five  years  after  his  burial  an  old  white-haired  man  appeared 
in  the  community  and  said  that  he  wanted  to  see  George  Wilson. 
When  told  that  he  was  dead  he  sat  down  and  cried  bitterly.  He 
at  last  became  calm,  and  by  request  was  conducted  to  the  grave. 
There  his  tears  again  began  to  flow  and  nothing  could  induce  him 
to  leave  the  grave.  He  remained  there  until  next  morning,  when 
George  Wilson,  Jr.,  went  to  look  after  him.     Still  refusing  to 

224 


leave,  George  carried  him  in  his  arms  to  his  house,  where  he  was 
induced  to  eat  a  little.  He  soon  returned  to  the  grave,  and  sitting 
flat  upon  the  ground,  remained  there  all  day,  and  the  next  morning 
was  found  dead  on  the  spot  where  he  had  last  been  seen  in  a  sit- 
ting posture.    And  he,  too,  lies  buried  there  in  an  unknown  grave. 

Many  efforts  were  made  to  get  the  old  man  to  talk ;  but  he  paid 
no  attention  whatever  to  any  question  asked  after  the  first  one 
was  answered.  His  long  white  hair  reached  to  his  shoulders,  and 
when  the  wind  was  blowing,  it  waived  around  his  head  in  such 
ghostly  fashion  that,  when  seen  at  a  graveyard  in  the  night,  the 
bravest  either  stopped  to  think,  or  resolved  to  increase  speed,  gen- 
erally the  latter.  Two  such  incidents  happened  during  the 
stranger's  stay  at  George  Wilson's  grave,  and  some  people  lived 
and  died  in  the  full  belief  that  the  white-haired  old  man  was  a 
very  ghost.  This,  or  something  like  this,  is  about  the  explanation 
of  all  ghost  stories. 

Moses  Vincent,  son-in-law  of  George  ^Yilson,  was  a  dapper  little 
man,  and  almost  as  irritable  as  a  hornet.  He  was,  however,  one 
of  the  best  of  workers ;  and  for  Moses  Vincent  to  say  he  was  going 
to  do  anything  was  almost  equivalent  to  saying  it  was  done.  When 
at  any  kind  of  work  he  thrashed  away  like  men  do  when  killing 
snakes.  Though  not  one  of  the  poplar  log  team,  he  was  present 
as  busy  as,  and  louder  than,  the  biggest  man  there.  He  is  intro- 
duced here  because  he  hauled  his  father-in-law's  poplar  lumber 
to  Athens.  He  carried  it  on  an  ox  cart  whose  wheels  were  made  of 
solid  blocks  of  timber  cut  from  a  huge  blackgum  tree.  They  were 
made  with  solid  hubs  on  them  and  consequently  did  not  wabble 
much.  The  rims  of  the  wheels  were  protected  by  white  oak  tires, 
which  had  to  be  frequently  renewed.  To  prevent  them  from 
creaking  on  their  axles,  pine  leaves  were  used  instead  of  common 
pine  tar.  Such  a  cart  drawn  by  big  oxen  over  the  campus  of  the 
State  University  to-day,  would  create  so  great  a  sensation  that 
everybody  would  be  wanting  to  ride. 

The  gum  trees  which  then  grew  in  the  swamps  were  sometimes 
of  immense  size.    I  now  have,  in  everyday  use,  a  gum*  which  was 

*Thi8  old  gum  is  now  in  Mrs.  Maggie  Johnson's  possession. — Ed. 

225 


cut  in  one  of  these  swamps  by  George  Wilson,  Sr.,  in  1785.  Though 
not  the  largest  cut,  it  holds  about  eight  bushels,  is  three  feet  high, 
and  the  wood  is  not  more  than  an  inch  thick  at  any  place,  all 
hollowed  out  by  the  hand  of  nature. 

Mrs.  Polly  Vincent,  wife  of  Moses,  had  spun  and  woven  enough 
cloth  to  make  her  two  or  three  counterpanes  to  spread  over  her 
well-filled  feather  beds  on  Sundays.  They  were  striped  both  ways, 
and  were  called  checkered  counterpanes.  The  stripes  were  blue, 
white  and  copperas,  and  about  three  inches  wide.  After  making 
her  counterpanes,  Polly  found  that  she  had  nearly  two  yards  left. 
Moses  wanted  a  pair  of  breeches  made  of  this  remnant;  and 
though  she  demurred,  he  insisted,  and  the  breeches  were  made. 

About  that  time,  the  famous  Lorenzo  Dow  and  his  wife,  Peggy, 
were  making  a  tour  through  this  part  of  the  country.  One  Satur- 
day they  had  an  appointment  to  preach  at  Black's  Creek  church, 
where  Moses  was  a  member  in  good  standing.  AYanting,  as  he 
said,  "to  hear  a  woman  preach  before  he  died,"  he  was  anxious 
to  attend  and  wear  his  new  breeches.  The  time  came,  and  Moses 
pulled  himself  into  his  pants.  They  were  so  tight  that  he  could 
not  stoop  down  and  Polly  had  to  tie  his  shoes.  He  hesitated  to 
wear  them ;  but  she  laughed  at  him  so  heartily  that  he  got  mad, 
and  declared  he  would  go  "breeches  or  no  breeches."  So,  by 
going  to  a  stump,  he  "wiggled"  on  his  horse,  and  away  he  went; 
but  he  could  not  bend  his  legs  enough  to  keep  his  feet  in  the 
stirrups.  Near  the  church,  he  met  a  traveling  stranger,  who  ex- 
claimed : 

"Good  morning,  sir,  to  your  big  striped  breeches!" 

"None  of  your  business,  sir,  what  sort  of  breeches  I  wear," 
snapped  Moses. 

"I  know,"  replied  the  man,  "but  you  look  so  funny,  you  mu3t 

excuse  me." 

"Excuse  the  d 1!" 

"No,  not  him,  but  me." 

"Light,  and  I'll  thrash  you." 

"You  can't  light  with  them  tight  breeches  on;  so  I'll  go." 

"Go  and  be  durned,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  traveler  rode  away, 
laughing. 

226 


Moses  waited  until  the  stranger  was  out  of  sight,  and  he  was 
so  mad  that  he  turned  and  went  back  home.  He  afterwards 
burned  his  "big  striped  breeches,"  because,  as  he  said,  "the 
d d  things  kept  him  from  hearing  a  woman  preach," 

Mr.  Vincent  was  a  strictly  honest  and  successful  farmer.  He 
finally  moved  to  Habersham  County,  where  he  died  somewhere 
in  the  early  forties.    Some  of  his  relatives  still  live  here. 


22/ 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Gabe  Nash  Spells  "Tizic." 

James  Nash,  father  of  William  Nash,  came  with  other  early- 
settlers  to  this  county,  where  he  followed  farming  nearly  all  his 
life.  His  industrious  habits  and  good  management  soon  enabled 
him  to  accumulate  a  considerable  fortune ;  and,  being  the  soul  of 
honor  and  a  Christian  gentleman  without  blemish,  he  made  good 
use  of  it.  His  position  at  the  poplar  log  showed  his  physical 
strength,  and  he  was  in  every  other  way  equally  strong. 

He  finally  settled  about  four  miles  below  Commerce,  on  the 
Clarkesville  road,  where  he  built  the  best  and  most  elegant  resi- 
dence then  in  the  county.  It  afterwards  became  a  public  inn  and 
was  favorably  known  to  the  traveling  public  both  far  and  near. 
This  house  and  all  the  improvements  on  the  place  were  totally 
destroyed  by  a  cyclone  on  Feb.  19,  1884.  His  daughter,  Miss 
Mary  Nash,  was  fatally  wounded  and  some  of  the  family  of  his 
grandson,  C.  T.  Nash,  who  then  lived  there,  were  blown  high  up 
into  the  shade  trees ;  but  did  not  get  seriously  hurt. 

Mrs,  Margerette  Thornton,  who  recently  died  in  Texas  at  the 
age  of  100  years,  was  James  Nash's  daughter,  and  widow  of 
Micajah  Thornton,  who  was  born  near  old  Etoho  church  before 
it  became  Oconee. 

The  celebrated  Gabriel  Nash,  Esq.,  who  died  in  Madison  County 
many  years  ago,  was  James  Nash 's  son  and  a  pupil  of  William  T. 
Brantly  near  John  Borders'  mill,  now  the  Jackson  mill.  Perhaps 
a  friendly  controversy  which  took  place  between  the  teacher 
and  pupil  may  be  worth  repeating.  Walker's  dictionary  was  then 
used,  and  one  day  the  teacher  gave  out  the  word  "phthisic." 
When  it  had  reached  Gabriel  no  one  had  spelled  it,  and  he  bawled 
out  "t-i-z-i-c,  tizic."  The  teacher  shook  his  head  and  finally  had 
to  spell  it  for  his  class. 

"Are  you  sure,"  asked  Nash,  "that  p-h-t-h-i-s-i-c  spells  tizic?" 

"I'll  leave  it  to  Walker,"  replied  the  teacher. 

228 


"Mr.  Brantly,"  said  Nash  respectfully,  "I  like  you  too  well  to 
dispute  your  word,  and  it's  Walker,  himself,  that  is  wrong." 

"What  will  you  do  for  a  standard?"  was  asked, 

"Make  one  for  myself,"  was  the  reply,  and  the  lesson  went  on 
pleasantly. 

In  after  years,  when  Gabriel  Nash  was  a  leading  lawyer  at  the 
bar  and  such  men  as  Howell  and  Tom  Cobb  dreaded  his  biting 
sarcasm  and  his  bold  assaults,  he  had  a  case  in  court  which,  in 
some  way,  involved  the  estate  of  a  man  who  had  died  with  the 
phthisic.  In  making  out  his  briefs  it  became  necessary  for  him 
to  use  the  name  of  the  disease  with  which  the  man  died.  Though 
frequently  used,  he  invariably  wrote  the  word  "tizic."  Judge 
Charles  Dougherty,  a  man  who  always  insisted  on  doing  every- 
thing precisely  right,  was  on  the  bench,  and  ordered  Mr.  Nash 
to  change  his  spelling. 

"Please,  your  Honor,  what  difference  does  it  make  for  a  man 
to  die  with  two  h's  or  without  any.  He's  dead,  and  that's  all 
there  is  of  it." 

He  took  his  seat  and  nothing  more  was  said  about  the  trouble- 
some word.    He  had  made  and  followed  his  standard. 

Mrs.  James  Nash,  nee  Miss  Margerette  Long,  was  loved  and 
honored  by  all  the  people.  No  being  lived,  however  obscure  or 
mean,  that  she  failed  to  treat  kindly.  She  was  a  near  relative  of 
Dr.  Crawford  W.  Long,  but  she  died  before  he  became  famous. 
She  and  her  husband  sleep  the  sleep  of  the  good  in  plain  view  of 
the  desolate  spot  which  was  once  their  pleasant  home. 

Robert  Wilson,  son  of  George  Wilson,  Sr.,  was  the  first  boy 
born  within  the  present  limits  of  Jackson  County  and  the  first 
native  citizen  to  leave  it.  Like  his  father  and  brothers,  he  was  a 
giant  in  size ;  and  being  a  blacksmith,  the  strength  in  his  arm  was 
enormous.  He  forged  all  the  iron  work  that  was  used  in  the  old 
jail  at  Jefferson.  In  this  he  was  assisted  by  James  Goode,  the 
first  man  ever  confined  within  the  walls  which  he  had  labored  to 
make  strong.  He  was  afterwards  hung  for  the  murder  of  his 
child,  which  a  woman  required  him  to  put  out  of  the  way  before 
she  would  marry  him.     It  is  all  well  and  much  better  that  that 

229 


woman's  people  were  then,  and  still  are,  among  the  best  people 
in  the  country. 

The  above  is  a  remarkable  paragraph,  which  I  failed  to  notice 
until  after  it  was  written.  First  son  born;  first  to  leave  county; 
first  substantial  jail;  first  prisoner;  first  murderer  legally  pun- 
ished; first  hung. 

Robert  Wilson  married  Miss  Aseneath  Winburn,  whose  father 
lived  near  Black's  Creek  church.  A  little  more  than  a  year  ago 
I  passed  by  the  old  Winburn  burying  ground  and  paused  to 
think  of  the  changes  which  the  ever  onward  rush  of  years  re- 
veals to  the  eyes  of  an  old  man.  Elberta  peach  trees  and  cotton 
were  growing  all  over  and  around  the  graves  of  an  entire  family, 
except  one  son,  Elsworth  Winburn,  who  fell  at  the  side  of  David 
Crockett  at  the  battle  of  the  Alamo,  Texas,  March  6,  1836.  As 
the  song  says,  "What  one  man  loses  another  one  gains." 

Soon  after  Robert  Wilson  married  he  went  with  his  bride  to 
Tennessee,  and  I  have  never  heard  anything  more  of  him,  except 
that  he  lived  in  the  neighborhood  of  James  K.  Polk,  and  left 
many  descendants  there. 

Drury  Gee  was  by  direct  descent  an  Englishman  of  pure 
Saxon  blood.  He  came  to  this  county  from  North  Carolina  in 
1785  as  a  follower  of  George  Wilson  and  Notty  Gore,  and  settled 
near  Black's  Creek  church,  now  in  Madison  County.  He  was  a 
revolutionary  soldier  and  fought  under  Washington  all  the  way 
from  the  crossing  of  the  Delaware  to  Yorktown.  He  belonged  to 
the  same  regiment  that  boasted  of  the  names  of  Jackson  Clark, 
Jacob  Bankston,  John  Harris,  Dale  Clover  and  Henry  Therrauld. 
When  Tumbling  Shoals  was  threatened  with  an  enemy,  Drury 
Gee  flew  to  the  aid  of  his  friends  there  with  all  possible  speed, 
and  was  always  an  ally  of  first  importance.  The  news  of  the  in- 
vasion of  Wautowauto  did  not  reach  him  in  time  for  the  battle 
among  the  trees ;  but  he  was  at  the  burying  of  Dr.  Therrauld  and 
wept  over  the  loss  of  his  dear  friend  and  fellow  soldier  at  a 
"time  that  tried  men's  souls." 

Because  of  his  powers  and  endurance  he  was  called  "The  Iron 
Man,"  and  he  well  merited  the  title.  Though  of  medium  size,  his 
muscles  bulged  from  his  arms  in  great,  cord-like  knots;  and  for 

230 


this  reason  he  was  always  one  of  the  team  of  men  who  carried 
big  logs.  Foot-racing  was  a  leading  sport  of  the  times,  and  as 
dearly  loved  by  Drury  Gee  as  the  smoker  loves  his  pipe.  When 
"on  the  turf,"  as  he  called  it,  he  was  never  known  to  be  in  the 
rear.  "When  the  news  of  Wautowauto's  descent  upon  Tumbling 
Shoals  reached  him  he  arrived  at  the  place  on  foot,  carrying  a 
heavy  rifle  twelve  miles,  in  advance  of  two  boys,  James  Wilson 
and  Samuel  Gore,  who  followed  him  on  horseback.  Before  sun- 
down of  that  day  every  available  man  and  boy  at  and  around 
the  Groaning  Rock  settlement  was  at  Tumbling  Shoals,  all  heavily 
armed.  It  was  thus  that  the  scattered  inhabitants  of  the  country 
flew  to  the  assistance  of  each  other,  and  they  always  went  to  hurt. 

Mr.  Gee  was  eminently  a  man  of  peace  and  a  gentleman ;  but  it 
was  dangerous  business  "to  tread  upon  his  toes."  This  was 
never  known  to  be  tried  but  one  time.  John  Shoemaker,  a  very 
large  man  and  a  self-styled  "bully,"  though  not  a  citizen,  while 
passing  through  the  country  heard  of  Drury  Gee.  He  sent  him 
word  that  he  could  either  whip  him  or  throw  him  down  in  a 
rough  and  tumble  scuffle.  They  met  and  Gee  told  him  that  he 
would  throw  him  down  first  and  thrash  afterwards.  This  made 
the  "bully"  mad,  and  they  went  together  with  a  clash.  At  the 
second  pass  Gee  threw  him  on  his  back  so  violently  that,  though 
he  tried,  he  could  not  turn  over.  Gee  then  carried  him  to  a 
heavy  rail  fence,  put  his  head  between  two  rails  that  would  not 
choke  him,  took  off  one  of  his  heavy  shoes  and  gave  him  a  good 
"spanking."  The  man  soon  began  to  beg  for  mercy,  Gee  de- 
liberately released  him,  they  shook  hands  and  parted  in  peace. 
Shoemaker  never  returned  to  the  settlement.  This  was  character- 
istic of  the  times — no  pistol,  no  knife,  no  threats — nothing  but 
the  closing  of  the  fingers  together. 

Some  years  after  this,  while  Drury  Gee  was  cutting  sprouts  in 
his  new  ground,  he  felt  a  sharp  pain  in  the  big  toe  of  his  right 
foot.  He  gave  it  little  attention  at  first,  but  in  a  few  days  his 
entire  foot  began  to  swell  and  turn  blue.  Sharp  pains  began  to 
shoot  up  his  leg  and  the  swelling  increased  to  an  alarming  extent. 
The  nearest  physician  was  Dr.  Hopson,  at  Jefferson.  Samuel 
Gore,  son  of  Notty,  and  the  boy  that  went  with  James  Wilson  to 

231 


Tumbling  Shoals,  being  a  bold  and  reckless  rider,  went  after  him. 
In  due  time,  the  doctor  arrived,  and  after  examination  decided 
that  amputation  of  the  leg  was  the  only  chance  to  save  his  life. 
Mr.  Gee  consented.  The  knives  and  saws,  the  bandages,  thread 
and  needles,  usually  carried  by  a  surgeon  in  those  days  were 
placed  on  a  shelf  in  plain  view  of  the  sufferer.  James  Mont- 
gomery, Hiram  Bingham,  Notty  Gore  and  James  Wilson  were 
the  special  attendants.  They  placed  Mr.  Gee  on  a  heavy,  rough 
table  which  stood  near  the  shelf.  Everything  was  ready.  The 
reader  may  think  that  all  those  strong  men  were  there  to  hold 
Mr.  Gee !  Oh,  no,  not  that !  They  were  there  to  wait  on  the  sur- 
geon, and  Mrs.  Gee  and  others  were  there  to  wait  on  them. 
Crawford  W.  Long  had  never  been  heard  of;  anesthesia  was 
unknown. 

Mr.  Gee  is  pale ;  but  his  eyes  which  had  faced  so  many  dangers 
unmoved,  are  calm  and  glittering.  A  death-like  silence  reigns,  the 
first  incision  is  made,  the  cutting  goes  on  and  on,  the  arteries 
are  tied  and  tied,  the  bone  is  reached !  The  cruel  saw  begins  its 
work,  slowly,  slowly,  carefully,  lower  and  lower  go  its  slurring 
teeth,  all  grim  with  blood  and  marrow;  and  lower,  lower  still, 
until  it  ceases  to  move — stop! — the  leg  is  off! 

Neither  groan  nor  sigh  had  escaped  the  lips  of  the  sufferer. 
No  wonder  he  was  called  "The  Iron  Man." 

Mr.  Gee's  leg  was  well  in  reasonable  time,  and  for  twelve 
months  he  went  on  one  crutch  as  cheerful  and  determined  as  he 
had  ever  been.  But,  it  is  painful  to  ever  write  it — his  left  big  toe 
became  affected  as  the  other  had  been.  The  disease  spread  as  be- 
fore, and  again  amputation  became  necessary.  The  same  sur- 
geon performed  the  operation  as  successfully  as  before.  When 
Dr.  Hopson  thought  his  patient  out  of  danger,  he  playfully  asked 
Mr.  Gee  what  he  intended  to  do.  "Lie  here  and  kick  up  my  heels, 
I  reckon,"  was  the  dry  reply.  A  legless  man  kicking  up  his 
heels ! 

Mr.  Gee  lived  only  a  few  years  after  his  last  leg  was  cut  off. 
He  was  buried  at  Black's  Creek  church,  and  "He  whose  memory 
deserves  a  temple,"  now  sleeps  in  a  grave  unmarked.  In  1854 
two  small  stones  indicated  the  exact  spot,  but  in  1880  even  these 

232 


were  gone.  It  is  between  the  graves  of  Mesdames  Polly  Mc- 
Ginnis  and  Eveline  Baugh,  mother  of  the  late  W.  C.  Baugh  of 
Maysville. 

Samuel  Gore,  already  incidentally  mentioned,  was  not  remark- 
able for  anything  except  his  physical  strength  and  the  bold,  reck- 
less way  he  had  of  doing  things.  As  the  escapade  he  had  on  the 
night  he  went  for  Dr.  Hopson  will  illustrate  this  feature,  it  may 
be  given  here. 

As  a  matter  of  fun  and  daring,  Sam  rode  the  Shaddon  steer, 
and  when  he  reached  Curry's  creek  a  little  below  the  present 
rock  dam,  where  the  banks  were  about  thirty  feet  apart,  the 
steer,  becoming  shy  of  the  rippling  water  as  it  glittered  in  the 
moonshine,  utterly  refused  to  cross.  Sam  wore  a  heavy,  home- 
made iron  spur  on  each  heel,  and  digging  these  into  the  sides  of 
the  animal,  he  made  the  opposite  bank  at  three  jumps.  Having 
no  mane  to  hold  by,  he  digged  his  spurs  still  deeper  to  keep  from 
falling  off.  This  so  enraged  the  steer  that  he  threw  up  his  tail 
to  an  angle  of  about  ninety  degrees  and  he  and  his  rider  went 
dashing  through  the  little  town  like  they  had  been  shot  out  of 
a  cannon.  It  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  night  but  Mrs.  Lucy 
Hyde  happened  to  see  them,  and  having  a  milk  cow  about  the  same 
color  of  the  steer,  she  hastened  to  tell  her  husband  that,  "The 
devil  had  taken  her  cow  and  gone  off  on  her  back  like  a  streak 
of  lightning!"  Others  had  heard  "the  rippet,"  as  they  termed 
the  stampede,  and  this,  when  added  to  Mrs.  Hyde's  somewhat 
exaggerated  story,  created  much  excitement. 

The  rider,  being  strong  and  athletic,  after  making  a  wide 
circuit,  finally  brought  the  steer  under  control.  When  he  reached 
the  court-house  on  his  return  the  square  around  it  was  thronged 
with  people  trying  to  find  an  explanation  of  what  they  heard, 
and  Mrs.  Hyde  saw.  The  explanation  was  easy,  a  hearty  laugh 
went  around,  and  Sam  hastened  to  the  doctor's  office. 

Some  one  of  the  town  wrote  a  song  to  celebrate  the  occasion. 
It  began  with  the  following  lines : 

"The  devil  came  in  town  to-night, 
But  didn  't  come  to  stay, 
He  came  upon  his  steer  all  right, 
But  rode  our  cow  away." 

233 


This  doggerel,  sang  to  a  lively  air,  became  popular  all  over  the 
county;  and  as  late  as  1836,  when  a  company  of  volunteers  was 
going  West  to  help  carry  the  Indians  away,  all  sang  this  song  as 
they  went  through  Jefferson.  Sam  Gore  himself,  and  his  neigh- 
bor, the  ill-fated  Levi  Quintius  Curtius  McGinnis,  were  members 
of  the  company  and  joined  in  the  singing  of  the  song. 

Sam  Gore  died  near  Ross'  Landing,  now  Chattanooga,  and 
though  rough  in  some  of  his  ways,  he  had  a  kind  heart  and  was 
a  true  and  faithful  friend.  McGinnis  returned,  and  I  was  a  pupil 
in  his  school  nine  days. 

Jim  Beasly,  the  fiddler,  though  of  fair  moral  character,  was  a 
good-for-nothing  sort  of  fellow.  He  was  so  kind-hearted  that 
like  Diogenes,  he  had  "nothing  for  himself  and  everything  for 
others."  A  good  fiddler  for  the  times,  he  played  at  public  gath- 
erings, and  for  that  he  generally  received  good  wages.  Though 
he  seldom  worked  long  at  one  place,  he  was  industrious,  and  gave 
good  satisfaction.  A  bird  of  passage,  he  finally  disappeared  and 
no  one  knew  from  whence  he  came  nor  whither  he  went. 

Thomas  Perry,  Sr.,  came  to  this  county  in  the  early  years  of 
the  last  century.  He  was  a  small  man  of  quiet  manners  and  of 
unquestioned  good  character.  Though  he  sometimes  took  his 
dram,  he  never  drank  to  excess,  and  lived  on  friendly  terms  with 
all  his  neighbors.  He  was  one  of  those  rare  men  who  joked  and 
took  jokes  without  offense  to  either  party.  A  man  could  not  be 
found  who  disliked  him,  nor  was  he  ever  known  to  speak  disre- 
spectfully of  another.  "Geewhillicans"  was  his  favorite  by-word, 
and  introductory  to  almost  everything  he  said.  An  oath  seemed 
to  rasp  and  grate  upon  his  feelings  like  a  saw  across  his  breast, 
and  he  would  not  remain  where  one  was  uttered.  He  was  certain- 
ly a  fine  character  and  worthy  of  all  praise. 

He  settled  one  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Commerce,  where  he 
opened  a  farm,  made  a  good  living  by  his  own  industry  and  by 
attending  to  his  own  business  without  any  interference  whatever 
with  the  business  of  others. 

He  was  a  neighbor  of  George  Wilson,  Sr.,  and  one  of  the  men 
who  labored  faithfully  to  alleviate  the  suffering  condition  of  the 
strange  old  man  who  died  at  his  grave.     For  several  years  be- 

234 


fore  his  death  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  with  the  shaking  palsy, 
which,  at  a  ripe  old  age,  wore  out  the  finely  woven  tissues  of  his 
life.  He  died  as  he  had  lived,  without  an  enemy,  and  was  buried 
near  his  home  on  a  plat  of  ground  selected  by  himself.  Mrs. 
J.  W.  Lord  of  Jefferson  is  his  granddaughter. 

Notty  Gore  came  to  this  country  from  Ireland  and  settled 
near  where  J.  J.  Dunson,  grandson  of  William  Dunson,  now  lives. 
As  his  place  at  the  logrolling  showed,  he  was  one  of  the  men  of 
the  times.  Though  disposed  to  be  peaceful,  he  was  a  terrible  an- 
tagonist when  aroused;  but  this  never  occurred  on  his  own 
motion.  Though  a  true  Celt,  he  soon  became  Americanized  in 
all  respects  except  two  or  three.  He  never  did  become  reconciled 
to  reptiles  and  ghosts.  He  was  more  afraid  of  snakes  and 
lizzards  than  he  was  of  the  wolves  and  panthers  that  were  his 
near  neighbors.  "Ather  Sent  Pathric  must  come  to  Ar-mer-i-ca, 
or  Notty  Go-re  must  go  back  to  I-re-land,"  was  his  common  say- 
ing. Notty  was  one  of  the  two  men  who  saw  the  ''ghost"  at  the 
grave  during  the  first  night  the  white-haired  old  man  stayed 
there. 

"Faith  an'  begorra,"  exclaimed  Notty,  "that's  George  come 
afther  me,  an'  I'm  not  er  goin'  at  all,  at  all!"  and  off  he  went 
at  full  speed.  Though  so  strong,  he  was  clumsy,  and  could  run 
neither  far  nor  fast.  James  Wilson,  who  was  on  his  way  to  see 
about  the  strange  old  man,  met  Notty  about  the  time  he  became 
exhausted  and  fell  sprawling  on  the  ground. 

"Jamie!  Jamie!  och!  honey,  me  darlint !  it's  yer  fa-ther  that's 
afther  me,  an'  I'm  all  not  wantin'  ter  go!"  said  the  Irishman,  as 
he  lay  panting,  flat  on  his  back. 

Finally,  becoming  pacified,  James  and  his  brother,  George 
Wilson,  Jr.,  went  home  with  Notty  and  many  good  laughs  went 
around.  Though  so  nervous  about  such  minor  things,  Notty  Gore 
was  as  brave  as  a  lion  when  facing  real  danger.  To  illustrate  this, 
the  following  incident  may  be  given : 

William  Sailers,  the  ten-year  old  son  of  Christopher  Sailers, 
Sr.,  was  attacked  by  a  gang  of  wolves  in  hearing  of  Mr.  Gore. 
As  usual,  he  had  with  him  a  very  heavy  hickory  club  which  he 
called    "his    shillalah,"    and,    in    his    hands,    was    a    formidable 

235 


weapon.  Judging  by  the  noise  he  knew  that  the  wolves  had 
brought  something  to  bay  and  he  ran  as  fast  as  he  could  to  see 
what  was  the  matter.  He  soon  discovered  a  little  boy  sitting  some 
seven  or  eight  feet  above  the  ground,  in  the  crotch  of  a  slnall 
dogwood  tree,  and  that  six  or  seven  wolves  were  jumping  and 
snapping  at  him.  Without  hesitation  he  joined  battle;  and 
though  he  was  bitten  in  several  places  and  his  clothes  badly 
torn,  he  killed  every  one  of  the  wolves  with  his  terrible  club  and 
stamped  upon  their  tails.  Old  hunters  said  that  if  you  mashed 
the  tail  of  an  animal  none  of  its  species  would  bother  you  after- 
wards. Hence  the  vulgar  saying — "mashed  his  tail."  The  shep- 
herd dog  seems  to  know  something  of  this  "tailology."  The 
first  snap  is  at  the  tail  of  his  enemy,  and,  generally,  that  ends  the 
dispute. 

The  battle  over,  Mr.  Gore  placed  his  back  against  the  dogwood, 
the  little  boy  crawled  upon  his  broad  shoulders,  and  in  that 
position  was  carried  home.  The  older  generation  of  the  Sailers 
family  thought  of  Notty  Gore  as  the  world,  for  less  reason,  thinks 
of  Alexander  the  Great. 

At  that  time,  Mr.  Gore  was  the  only  member  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  church  in  the  country  and  said  that  if  he  had  not  counted 
his  beads  that  morning  he  never  would  have  gained  the  victory  in 
the  wolf  fight. 

He  became  a  chair-maker  by  trade,  and  by  using  a  foot-lathe, 
turned  and  made  the  first  split-bottomed  chairs  seen  in  the 
county.  They  were  large  and  heavy,  and  made  to  last  for  genera- 
tions. His  wife,  Oeschellee  Gore,  died  a  few  years  after  reaching 
her  wilderness  home,  and  left  two  children,  Samuel  and  a  little 
daughter,  who  soon  followed  the  mother. 

Many  years  after  Notty  Gore  joined  his  wife  and  children 
where,  Dante  like,  "few  want  to  go,  but  going  never  to  return" 
—and  the  Gore  family  was  extinct  in  this  country.  For  reasons 
that  appear  in  the  closing  paragraphs  of  this  narrative,  he  was 
buried  at  the  side  of  his  life-long  friends,  and  at  the  very  spot, 
reserved  for  the  purpose,  where  the  mysterious  stranger  died. 

Notty  Gore  and  George  Wilson  came,  almost  as  one  man,  to 
America,  and  joined  the  army  under  Washington  just  before  the 

236 


capture  of  Fort  Lee  in  1776.  There  they  were  taken  prisoners, 
but  soon  after  escaped,  and,  being  cut  off  from  their  command, 
they  went  to  Philadelphia.  While  there  they  fell  in  love  with  the 
girls  who  afterwards  became  their  wives.  Wilson  married  Miss 
Martha  Gevendoline  Gailey,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  Gore  mar- 
ried her  sister,  Miss  Oeschellee  Gailey.  Carrying  their  wives  with 
them,  they  again  entered  the  army  in  time  to  be  in  the  battle  of 
Brandywine. 

At  the  battle  of  Monmouth  they  were  both  severely  wounded, 
but  the  nursing  of  their  "good  angels,"  as  they  called  their 
wives,  finally  saved  their  lives.  However,  they  were  not  able  to 
do  active  service  again  until  a  short  while  before  the  fall  of  York- 
town,  which  they  reached  the  day  after  Cornwallis  surrendered, 
Oct.  19,  1781.    Like  Othello,  their  "occupation  was  gone." 

They  turned  to  the  west,  and  reaching  Iredell  County,  N.  C, 
remained  there  about  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Georgia. 

It  is  strange  that  these  two  soldiers,  who  had  never  heard  of 
Clark,  Bankston,  Harris,  Clover,  Therrauld,  or  Gee  should  almost 
tread  in  the  footprints  of  these  strangers  from  Yorktown  to  the 
same  wilderness  in  Georgia.  Was  this  a  coincidence — a  chance, 
or  was  it  a  single  turn  in  the  whirligig  of  time  which  has,  turn 
after  turn,  brought  Jackson  County  to  adopt  the  motto — "On- 
ward! and  to  the  Front?" 

Note:  The  foregoing  is  a  fine  illustration  of  "old  times  on  the  farm." 
Many  of  our  older  readers  can  remember  when  the  logrollings  were  an 
annual  occurrence  on  all  the  farms  in  the  spring  of  the  year.  Even  the 
little  "brown  jug,"  the  dance,  quilting  and  maybe  the  wedding  at  some  of 
them,  can  be  called  to  mind. — Ed. 


237 


CELL  NO.  21. 

CHAPTER  1. 

The  "A"  Family. 

In  1833  there  lived  on  Pea  Ridge,  near  Winder,  a  remarkable 
family  which  was  extensively  known  by  the  curious  designation 
of  ''The  Letter  A,"  The  father,  Alexis  Alston,*  was  an  able 
and  consecrated  minister  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  the  mother, 
Mrs.  Almeda  Alston,  was  known  and  loved  throughout  the  coun- 
try for  her  many  Christian  virtues.  They  had  nine  sons,  Albert, 
Alpheus,  Almarine,  Alpha,  Augustus,  Alford,  Adolphus,  Alphonso, 
and  Abraham;  also  two  daughters,  Artemisia  and  Alto.  Though 
so  numerous  all  their  names  begin  with  A,  and  when  one 
spoke  of  himself  it  was  a  matter  of  pride  to  say,  "I  am  one  of  the 
A  family." 

While  all  were  good-looking  and  of  excellent  character,  none 
of  the  children  were  married.  The  Alstons  were  not  wealthy, 
but  in  easy  circumstances,  making  their  living  by  hard  work 
and  good  management.  Mrs.  Alston  was  educated  and  refined, 
and  being  aided  by  her  husband,  was  eminently  successful  in 
educating  her  children. 

Living  in  a  new  country,  far  away  from  the  busy  hum  of  life 
as  now  heard  in  that  section ;  having  few  neighbors,  no  schools, 
and  but  one  church  within  easy  reach,  we  might  suppose  that 
the  Alstons  led  an  isolated  life.  Such,  however,  was  not  the  case. 
They  had  many  visitors,  and  among  them  were  what  was  then 
called  "aristocrats."  In  the  summer  of  the  year  mentioned 
Governor  George  R.  Gilmer  and  Mrs.  Gilmer  of  Lexington  vis- 
ited the  family,  and  were  so  well  pleased  that  they  remained 
several  days  over  their  allotted  time.  Mrs.  Gilmer,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  women  of  her  time,  afterwards  wrote  a  letter  to  a 
relative  in  Virginia  from  which  the  following  is  an  extract : 

*Mr.  Alston's  parents  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eobert  Alston,  who  settled  at 
Snodon  (now  Winder),  in  1794. — Ed. 

238 


"I  have  just  returned  from  Jug  Tavern  [Winder]  in  the  up- 
lands of  Jackson  County.  Near  that  place  lives  Rev.  Alexis 
Alston  whose  family  is  remarkable  in  several  respects.  The  un- 
earthly beauty  of  his  daughter,  Artemisia,  is,  perhaps,  the  most 
surprising  of  all.  Named  after  the  ancient  queen  of  Cavia,  she 
is  herself  a  very  queen.  Nearly  eighteen  years  old,  and  perfect 
in  form  and  feature,  she  is  really  more  than  a  queen.  Her  man- 
ners are  pleasing,  her  carriage  graceful,  and  her  smiles  seem  to 
be  made  of  sunshine  and  gladness.  Her  hair,  which  is  of  a  light 
wine  color,  falls  in  graceful  ringlets  over  her  classically  formed 
shoulders,  and  when  her  eyes,  which  are  of  a  deep  cerulian  blue, 
look  at  me  from  beneath  two  curls  that  usually  meet  just  above 
them,  I  think  her  the  most  beautiful  girl  I  ever  saw.  And  when 
I  find  that  her  natural  disposition  is  as  sweet  as  her  face;  that 
with  all  her  beauty  she  does  not  seem  to  know  it;  and  that  the 
tone  of  her  voice  rises  and  falls,  trembles  and  melts  away  like 
the  twinkling  of  a  silver  bell  in  some  enchanting  cathedral,  then 
for  a  moment,  I  forget  what  I  have  seen  and  become  lost  in  ad- 
miration of  what  I  hear. 

"All  the  family  are  trained  musicians,  both  vocal  and  instru- 
mental; and  to  hear  them  in  concert  seems  to  lift  one  far  above 
the  sensual  things  of  earth.  The  wonder  is  why  such  a  flower 
blooms  in  almost  a  wilderness ! 

"The  Alstons,  however,  are  not  without  visitors.  The  fair 
Artemisia  has  many  admirers,  some  of  them  from  quite  a  distance. 
While  there  two  young  men,  John  Coatney  and  Sidney  York, 
were  paying  her  marked  attention.  So  far  as  I  could  see  she 
showed  nothing  but  common  friendship  for  both  alike.  They 
are  handsome,  but  their  positions  in  life  are  quite  different. 
Coatney  is  rich  and  influential ;  York,  though  poor,  has  a  charac- 
ter far  superior  to  that  of  his  rival." 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  narrative  to  give  only  so  much  of  the 
history  of  "The  Letter  A"  as  will  enable  the  reader  to  better 
understand  a  few  incidents  that  relate  to  that  interesting  family. 
As  stated  by  Mrs.  Gilmer  all  the  Alstons  were  good  singers,  and 
every  night  prayer  and  song,  generally  led  by  one  of  the  boys  or 
girls,  were  strictly  observed.     After  going  to  bed,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 

239 


Alston  generally,  when  at  home,  sang  themselves  to  sleep,  and 
a  little  before  daybreak  it  was  their  custom  to  sing  again  until 
their  early  rising  hour.  Those  morning  songs  in  the  silent  hours 
of  night  were  certainly  impressive. 

The  writer  has  heard  them  but  not  at  Pea  Ridge ;  though  some- 
times when  passing  along  the  road  which  still  runs  near  that 
place  once  made  glad  with  prayer  and  song,  with  busy  life  and 
musical  laughter,  he  has  stopped  and  listened  with  momentary 
expectation  of  hearing  the  old-time  symphony  again.  He  heard 
it  not,  but  believes  that  SOMEWHERE  in  the  vast  universe  of 
God,  it  is  still  heard  as  an  accompaniment  to  the  song  of  redeem- 
ing grace — a  song  that  angels  can  not  sing. 

On  the  night  of  the  1.3th  of  November  of  that  same  year,  when 
the  Gilmers  had  returned  home,  and  other  visitors,  though  not  so 
distinguished,  had  taken  their  places,  the  usual  devotional  exer- 
cises of  the  Alston  home  were  abruptly  brought  to  a  close  by  the 
hasty  and  unceremonious  appearance  of  Dick  Manly,  a  neighbor 
who  lived  more  than  a  mile  distant.  Bare-headed,  with  blazing 
eyes  and  wild  gesticulations,  he  rushed  into  the  house  while  all 
the  family  and  visitors  were  singing,  and  shouting  at  the  top  of 
his  voice  that  "the  world  was  coming  to  an  end,"  he  fell  upon 
his  knees  and  asked  Mr.  Alston  and  all  the  family  to  pray  for 
him.  He  was  quickly  followed  by  Mrs.  Manly,  who  also  ran  into 
the  house  with  a  white  sheet  wrapped  around  her.  Falling  at 
the  feet  of  Mrs.  Alston,  she  moaned  in  piteous  tones : 

"0  Meda,  judgment  day  has  come!  Ga'bril  will  soon  be  ready 
to  blow  his  horn!  I'm  ready,  see  I've  done  put  on  my  ascension 
robe,  all  nice  and  clean !     Pray  for  Dick,  he  curses  and  swears ! 

0  pray,  Meda,  pray!  for  God's  sake,  pray!— pray  now  for  poor 
Dick— Dick— Dick  Manly!" 

The  sudden  appearance  and  wild  behavior  of  Manly  and  his 
wife  so  astonished  all  present  that  no  one  seemed  able  to  move. 
Soon  a  distant  cry  was  heard  plaintively  saying:  "O  Lord!  the 
world  is  coming  to  an  end,  and  I'm  not  saved!    Lord  what  shall 

1  do?" 

Other  similar  exclamations,  mixed  with  screams  and  wild 
hysterical  shouting  were  heard  in  different  directions.     At  last 

240 


realizing  that  something  uncommon  Avas  going  on,  Mr.  Alston  ran 
to  the  door,  and  looking  out,  hurriedly  called  aloud: 

"All  come  here  and  see  a  wonderful  display  of  the  power  of 
Almighty  God!  but  be  not  afraid!" 

A  confused  rush  was  made  into  the  yard,  when  some  one 
shouted:  "Back  into  the  house,  all  the  stars  of  heaven  are 
falling!" 

Some  obeyed,  some  remained;  some  were  praying,  a  few  were 
shouting  and  praising  God ;  some  were  crying,  some  were  scream- 
ing, none  were  cursing,  then. 

Consternation,  wonder  and  amazement  ruled  almost  supreme! 
The  heavens  seemed  to  be  aglow  with  liquid  fire— it  was  raining 
stars!  Sometimes  the  whole  firmanent  above  seemed  to  be  en- 
veloped in  rolling  convoluted  sheets  of  flame,  leaving  scarcely  a 
place  that  was  not  covered  every  instant.  Sometimes  the  sheets 
fell  like  great  flakes  of  snow,  and  shooting  in  every  direction 
like  burning  sheaves  of  straw  in  a  whirlwind!  Sometimes  they 
assumed  the  form  of  great  rolling,  tumbling  balls  which,  upon 
reaching  the  lower  atmosphere,  burst  into  thousands  of  frag- 
ments that  made  a  veritable  shower  of  fire.  Far  above  the  so- 
called  bursting  stars  others  could  be  seen,  striking  violently 
against  each  other,  and  then  shooting  away  with  inconceivable 
velocity  in  every  direction,  disappearing  in  the  shadowy  distance. 

The  scene  was  awful  and  grand  beyond  description.  No 
wonder  that  many  people,  not  only  on  Pea  Ridge,  but  all  over  the 
Western  Hemisphere,  were  thrown  into  consternation  and  might- 
ily cried  to  God  in  anxious,  confused  clamor. 

In  a  short  time  many  were  assembled  at  the  Alston  home ;  and 
although  he  assured  his  troubled  friends  that  what  they  called 
falling  stars,  were  only  shooting  meteors,  and  that  the  strange 
phenomenon  had  been  often  seen  before,  thinking  that  he  was 
only  trying  to  pacify  them,  few,  except  his  own  family,  believed 
him. 

Good  people  constitute  a  powerful  magnet  which,  in  time  of 
distress,  draws  others  around  them.  Misery  loves  company.  The 
whole  scene  shows  that  at  last  God  is  the  only  refuge. 

241 


That  wonderful  meteoric  shower,  though  not  all  the  time  so 
brilliant,  lasted  through  the  night,  and,  astronomers  say,  until 
nearly  noon  on  the  following  day :  that  is  to  say,  it  took  the  earth 
nearly  all  night  and  half  of  the  next  day  to  pass  through  that 
part  of  its  orbit  around  the  sun  where  meteors  are  always  shoot- 
ing through  the  heavens,  and  that  the  same  place  is  reached  only 
one  time  in  33  years. 

At  any  rate  few  went  to  sleep  that  night  at  Pea  Kidge.  Some 
continued  their  prayers  and  wild  exclamations  until  the  brighter 
rays  of  the  morning  sun  obscured  the  softer  splendor  of  night's 
aerial  fireworks. 


142 


CHAPTER  II. 

Sidney  York  is  Arrested. 

Among  those  who  arrived  late  after  the  alarm  given  by  the 
Manleys  were  John  Coatney  and  Sidney  York,  who,  as  already 
seen,  were  rivals  for  the  hand  of  the  fair  Artemisia.  As  the  form- 
er had  hitherto  shown  nothing  but  contempt  for  the  latter,  it 
was  surprising  to  see  the  warm  friendship  which  sprang  up 
between  them  during  that  eventful  night.  Mr.  Coatney  went  so 
far  as  to  tell  Mrs.  Alston  and  her  daughters  that  he  had  found 
Mr.  York  to  be  one  of  the  best  men  he  ever  knew,  and  that  he 
was  sorry  for  having  cast  reflections  upon  his  good  name.  That 
astonished  those  who  best  knew  him  and  caused  some  comment. 
A  few  attributed  the  sudden  change  to  the  "falling  stars"  others 
to  a  recognition  of  Mr.  York's  real  worth,  and  still  others  said 
that  no  good  would  come  of  it. 

When  morning  came  and  the  fiery  heavens  had  their  usual  ap- 
pearance, John  Coatney,  hat  in  one  hand  and  gloves  in  the  other, 
approached  Mrs.  Alston,  saying: 

"My  Dear  Madam,  I  am  glad  to  see  you  looking  so  well  after 
the  exciting  scenes  of  the  night.  After  all  it  was  nothing  but  a 
plaything  of  God,  and  I  rejoice  to  know  that  you  were  not  fright- 
ened. I  am  sorry  that  Mr.  York  is  not  present  to  join  me  in 
thanking  you  for  the  hospitalities  of  the  night.  I  regret  to  say 
that  I  must  now  bid  you  good-bye." 

With  the  grace  of  a  Chesterfield  he  bowed  to  all  present  and 
left  the  room.  After  a  long  silence  a  Mrs.  Underwood,  a  friend 
visiting  from  a  distant  part  of  the  state,  remarked: 

"Meda,  I  am  afraid  of  that  man.  The  idea  that  God  would 
make  a  plaything  of  any  part  of  his  creation  is  so  absurd  that  it 
almost  stops  my  breath.  It  shows  a  depravity  that  is  calculated 
to  lead  to  the  commission  of  the  meanest  crime." 

It  is  not  known  that  Mrs.  Underwood's  criticisms  had  any 
reference  to  Mr.  Coatney 's  apparent  relations  to  the  family,  but 
none  present  called  her  conclusions  in  question. 

243 


In  the  meantime  both  young  men  continued  their  visits  to  the 
Alston  home,  where  they  were  always  received  on  equal  terms. 
Perhaps  this  irritated  Mr.  Coatney;  but  still  their  friendship 
seemed  to  grow  stronger  and  stronger  until  they  began  to  ex- 
change visits.  They  occupied  the  same  sleeping  room,  and  some- 
times hunted  together  in  the  almost  boundless  woods,  never  men- 
tioning, however,  the  girl  whom  they  both  loved  so  well. 

One  day  while  stopping  at  a  spring,  since  called  the  Segars 
tanyard  spring,  Coatney  carelessly  said  to  his  companion: 

"Say,  Sidney,  who  cut  and  made  that  new  suit  of  clothes  I 
saw  you  wearing  last  Sunday?" 

"Marion  Winters,  a  professional  tailor,  who  lives  at  Hurricane 
Shoals  over  on  North  Oconee  river,"  replied  Sidney. 

"He  certainly  understands  his  trade.  The  fit  and  make  seem 
perfect,  and  I  want  one  just  like  it,  except  mine  shall  be  of 
blue  broadcloth." 

"That  will  lay  mine  in  the  shade.  However,  I  am  content  to 
wear  plain  clothes  until  I  can  pay  for  better  ones." 

"I  suppose  you  have  a  prospect  of  being  able  to  buy  finer  ones 
in  a  few  years,"  said  Coatney,  drumming  with  his  fingers  on  a 
fine  Ledford  rifle. 

"I  hope  not  so  long  as  that.  An  uncle  recently  died  in  Ala- 
bama and  left  me  a  snug  little  fortune.  I  expect  to  go  after  it 
in  about  two  weeks." 

"So  that  is  what  the  new  suit  means?"  said  Coatney,  inter- 
rogatively. 

"That  is  one  thing,  though  it  pinched  me  pretty  closely  to  pay 
for  it  and  have  enough  left  for  traveling  expenses,"  replied  York 
sadly. 

"Don't  talk  so  sadly.  I'll  come  down  and  cheer  you  up  before 
you  leave,"  said  the  other,  rising  to  his  feet. 

"Glad  to  have  you  come,  and  I  thank  you  for  your  kind  in- 
tentions. Of  course  the  legacy  will  be  gratefully  accepted;  but 
I  mourn  the  loss  of  a  very  dear  uncle,"  replied  Sidney,  as  he 
shouldered  his  rifle. 

The  hunt  continued  for  several  hours,  but  nothing  further  Avas 
said  in  allusion  to  new  clothes  or  the  trip  to  Alabama. 

244 


Two  weeks  passed  away,  and  at  the  appointed  time  Sidney 
York,  wearing  his  new  suit,  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  away  to 
the  AVest  with  the  intention  of  being  gone  from  fifteen  to  twenty 
days.  He  was  a  very  handsome  young  man,  broad-shouldered,  of 
graceful  carriage,  fine  mental  capacity,  industrious,  and  of  un- 
blemished character.  He  had  told  his  sweetheart  good-bye  on  the 
previous  evening,  and  for  the  first  time  saw  a  shadow  pass  over 
her  lovely  features  as  he  turned  to  go  away.  "At  last,  thank 
Godj"  he  muttered,  as  he  mounted  his  horse. 

About  noon  of  the  same  day  he  began  his  journey  to  Alabama, 
John  Coatney  went  to  a  magistrate  and  had  a  warrant  issued 
charging  that  "On  the  9th  of  January,  1834,  while  I  was  sleeping 
in  my  father's  house,  Sidney  York  did  then  and  there  steal  from 
me,  the  said  John  Coatney,  one  fifty  ($50.00)  dollar  bill,  No.  2152, 
on  the  bank  of  Augusta,  Ga," 

The  warrant  was  immediately  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  Deputy 
Sheriff,  who,  in  company  .with  Coatney  himself  at  once  started 
in  pursuit  of  the  alleged  thief.  They  overtook  him  the  second 
night  after  leaving  home  while  sleeping  in  a  house  where  he  had 
secured  lodging.  When  arrested  he  vehemently  and  manfully  de- 
clared his  innocence. 

That  was  taken  by  the  sheriff  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  he, 
even  rudely,  proceeded  to  search  his  prisoner.  A  little  more 
than  seven  dollars  was  found  in  his  purse.  His  shoes,  stockings, 
cravat,  and  every  pocket  in  his  clothes  were  next  carefully  ex- 
amined ;  but  no  money  was  found— nothing  but  a  common  pocket- 
knife  of  which  the  officer  took  charge. 

He  was  then  ordered  to  dress,  pay  his  bill,  and  get  ready  to 
return.  While  putting  on  his  coat  John  Coatney  quickly  grabbed 
it  by  the  collar,  and  said: 

"Stop,  Mr.  Sidney  York,  I  think  I  saw  a  place  in  your  coat 
collar  that  looks  like  it  had  been  ripped  open !  Mr.  Sheriff,  look 
and  see!" 

The  officer  took  the  garment  and  turned  up  the  heavy  collar 
common  to  tailor-made  coats  in  those  days,  and,  sure  enough, 
there  was  a  place  where  the  stitches  had  been  cut.  The  sheriff 
thrust  two  fingers  into  the   opening,  and  by  making  the  rent 

245 


larger  drew  out  a  carefully  folded  paper.  It  proved  to  be  a 
$50.00  bill,  No.  2152,  on  the  Bank  of  Augusta,  Ga.,  just  as  de- 
scribed in  the  warrant. 

"I  told  you  so!  I  am  surprised  at  you,  Sidney  York!"  said 
Coatney  harshly. 

"I'll  face  you  on  judgment  day  about  this  false  accusation.  I 
did  not  know  the  money  was  in  my  coat  collar,"  replied  the 
prisoner  in  tones  as  clear  as  the  morning  echo. 

"You'll  first  face  him  before  an  earthly  judge,  the  evidence  is 
too  plain  for  denial,"  said  the  sheriff  unfeelingly. 

"I'll  face  you,  too,  at  the  final  settlement  of  all  things,  Mr. 
Sheriff!  I'm  not  guilty,  sir;  but  am  ready  to  go  with  you,"  was 
the  prisoner's  firm  reply. 

"Have  you  any  weapons?"  demanded  the  officer. 

"You  know  I  have  none,  not  even  a  pocket-knife,"  was  the 
sarcastic  reply. 

"Look  under  his  pillow,"  growled  Coatney. 

Nothing  was  found,  and  the  prisoner  was  hurried  back  and 
placed  in  jail  at  Lawrenceville,  where  he  remained  until  morn- 
ing. 

Oh,  how  cold  and  gloomy  were  prison  walls  that  night  and  for 
many  nights  following  to  the  finely  woven  nature  of  Sidney  York ! 
Neither  tongue  nor  pen  can  ever  tell  how  much  he  suffered. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  following  day  the  great  iron-bound  door 
of  the  old  jail  at  Jefferson  was  closed  upon  him.  The  news  soon 
reached  his  friends.  Their  astonishment  and  sorrow  were  very 
great.  Indignation  too,  played  a  prominent  part ;  though  the  evi- 
dence against  him  was  so  damaging  that  some,  not  all,  hung  their 
heads  in  silence. 


240 


ciiArTEK  iir. 

YoEK  IS  Found  Guilty — Coatney's  Confession. 
At  the  approaching  session  of  the  Superior  court  Sidney  York 
was  brought  to  trial.    He  looked  every  inch  a  gentleman.    Calm, 
cool,  collected,  his  great  black  eyes  seemed  to  pierce  through 
judge  and  jury.     Many  of  his  friends  were  present.     Able  law- 
yers represented  both   sides.     As  nearly  all  the   evidence  was 
against  the  prisoner,  few  had  any  hope.     John  Coatney  testified 
that  in  the  conversation  at  the  spring,  York  told  him  that  after 
paying  for  his  new  clothes  he  had  nothing  left  and  that  he  loaned 
him  the  money  found  in  his  purse  to  pay  his  expenses  to  Ala- 
bama.    This,  together  with  the  direct  evidence   of  the   deputy 
sheriff  led  some  to  think  that  it  was  useless  for  the  prisoner  to 
make  any  further  defense.    His  attorney,  Gabriel  Nash,*  did  not 
think  so.    As  bold  as  a  lion  and  as  terrific  as  a  thunderbolt  in  his 
assaults  upon  an  adversary,  he  first  assailed  the  doubtful  character 
of  John  Coatney,  and  drew  such  inferences  from  it  as  to  cause 
judge  and  jury  to  stare  with  wide-open  eyes.    Had  he  known  the 
exact  words  spoken  by  his  client  at  the  spring  it  is  difficult  to  say 
what  the  effect  would  have  been.    He  next  considered  the  hith- 
erto well-known  good  character  of  his  client  as  shown  by  first- 
class  witnesses,  and  drew  such  conclusions  from  it  as  seemed  to 
make  it  impossible  for  such  a  man  to  be  a  thief,  especially  when 
he  was  almost  within  reach  of  a  fortune. 

After  an  absence  of  something  over  two  hours,  the  jury  re- 
turned with  a  verdict  of  "GUILTY."  Amid  tears  and  sorrow 
the  prisoner  was  sentenced  for  "three  years  at  hard  labor  in  the 
penitentiary."  It  was  afterwards  learned  that  Col.  Nash  had 
saved  his  client  from  two  years  of  prison  life. 

The  tragedy  was  over,  and  a  few  days  after  the  "convict"  was 
carried  to  the  penitentiary  at  Milledgeville  and  assigned  to  his 
cold  3x7-foot  "CELL  NO.  21." 

*The  records  of  the  Superior  Court  show  that  Mr.  Nash  was  a  very  promi- 
nent lawyer  in  our  courts. — Ed. 

247 


To  more  than  one  home  did  the  sombre  specter  of  grief  go  and 
take  the  place  of  Sidney  York! 

As  the  days  passed  away  John  Coatney  continued  to  press  his 
suit  for  the  heart  and  hand  of  pretty  Artemisia  Alston.  To  his 
infinite  chagrin  she  still  continued  to  manifest  nothing  more 
than  common  friendship  for  him.  Sometimes  he  thought  even  that 
was  weakening.  An  answer  to  his  offers  of  marriage  and  a  large 
fortune  was  always  postponed  for  further  consideration.  Be- 
coming desperate  he  reproached  her  for  being  indifferent  to  his 
overtures  and  hinted  that  she  would  talk  more  favorable  to  a 
thief  in  the  penitentiary  than  to  himself.  That  ungenerous 
thrust  enabled  her  to  do  what  she  had  often  tried  to  do  before. 
She  indignantly  told  him  that  she  did  not  love  him,  and  that  even 
her  friendship  was  gone  forever.  He  left  her  in  high  "dudgeon;" 
but  a  few  days  after  wrote  her  a  note  asking  forgiveness  and 
begging  for  a  reconciliation.  In  reply  she  fully  forgave  him; 
but  said  nothing  about  a  reconciliation.     They  never  met  again. 

In  the  midst  of  the  fall  season,  when  Sidney  York  had  been 
languishing  in  his  narrow  prison  cell  by  night  and  working  in 
its  shops  nearly  every  day  for  nine  miserable  months,  John  Coat- 
ney was  stricken  with  a  violent  type  of  fever.  Being  physically 
strong  he  fought  the  disease  for  several  weeks;  but  he  finally  be- 
gan to  sink  so  fast  that  his  physicians,  when  asked  for  their 
opinion,  frankly  told  him  he  had  only  a  few  hours  to  live.  This 
was  terrible  news  to  such  a  man,  and  for  a  few  minutes  he  im- 
plored them  to  save  him  if  possible.  When  nearly  exhausted  he 
became  more  composed,  and  calling  for  a  servant  ordered  him  to 
go  after  the  same  magistrate  that  had  issued  the  warrant  for 
the  arrest  of  Sidney  York.  When  the  officer  arrived  the  dying 
man,  with  great  difficulty,  dictated  and  signed  the  following 
affidavit : 

"Believing  that  I  am  now  dying,  and  deeply  repenting  of  the 
great  crime  I  committed  against  Sidney  York,  now  in  the  peniten- 
tiary for  stealing,  I,  John  Coatney,  in  the  presence  of  Almighty 
God,  and  of  the  witnesses  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed, 
do  solemnly  swear  that  I  put  the  $50.00  bill,  No.  2152,  in  the 
said  Sidney  York's  coat  collar  with  my  own  hands  while  he  was 

248 


asleep  in  my  father's  house;  and  that  I  thought  by  disgracing 
him,  he  could  not  come  between  me  and  the  only  woman  I  ever 
loved.  John  Coatney, 

"Signed  in  Presence  of: 

"D.  G.  Campton,  J.  P.;  William  Harris,  N.  T.  Smith." 

The  affidavit  was  at  once  sent  to  the  governor  of  the  State. 
A  few  hours  afterwards  John  Coatney  died  and  was  buried  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  Line  school  house  near  which  his  father 
lived. 

How  true  is  Holy  Writ,  "The  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard !" 
and  again,  "Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you  out."  How  truly  did 
Mrs.  Underwood  prophesy,  and  how  clearly  did  Col.  Nash  see 
through  the  case,  when,  in  the  closing  sentence  of  his  argument 
before  the  jury,  he  exclaimed  in  thunder  tones : 

"Gentlemen  of  the  jury,  I  call  you  to  witness,  that,  though 
it  may  or  may  not  be  known  in  time,  when  the  records  of  eternity 
are  unrolled  it  will  be  known  of  all  men,  that  the  green-eyed 
monster  of  jealousy  is  the  head  and  front  of  this  false  accusa- 
tion." 

The  perplexing  mystery  was  solved  at  last.  In  due  time  Sid- 
ney York  was  free.  So  highly  was  the  country  gratified  over  the 
vindication  of  his  honor  that  several  leading  citizens  went  and 
escorted  him  home  from  Milledgeville. 

The  humble  but  honorable  home  of  Sidney  York's  father  stood 
on  the  spot  now  occupied  by  the  cemetery  at  Chapel  church  a 
few  miles  east  of  Winder.  That  beautiful  place  has  since  seen 
the  flow  of  many  tears  of  sorrow;  but  when  the  liberated  pris- 
oner of  Cell  No.  21,  reached  there,  tears  of  joy  flowed  like  great 
drops  of  falling  rain.  How  strange  the  transmutations  of  time 
as  it  passes  on,  forever  on,  in  unimpeded  flight. 

The  first  visit  made  by  the  free  man  was  to  see  the  Alston 
family,  not  one  of  whom  had  ever  believed  him  guilty.  Miss 
Artemisia  manifested  her  former  friendship,  nothing  more.  That 
was  disappointing  and  strengthened  him  in  a  former  resolution 

249 


to  leave  the  country.  To  that  she  objected  in  such  terms  that 
hope  was  renewed.  As  he  had  come  into  full  possession  of  the 
legacy  bequeathed  him  by  his  uncle,  he  from  time  to  time  became 
more  bold,  and  finally  reaching  what  he  called  "the  turning 
point,"  said,  with  a  deep  tremor  in  his  voice: 

"My  dear  Artie,  as  I  called  you  when  we  were  children  to- 
gether, I  want  to  repeat  what  you  have  long  known ;  only,  how- 
ever, by  your  permission.     May  I  go  on?" 

She  hesitated  a  moment,  and  then  giving  one  of  those  smiles 
which  Mrs.  Gilmer  characterized  as  "sunshine  and  gladness," 
answered:    "Yes,  go  on," 

"You  know,"  he  continued,  "that  I  love  you,  0  Artie,  so  very 
sincerely,  that  only  a  lifetime  of  devotion  can  measure  it !  Yes,  I 
love  you,  and  only  you.  While  I  have  been  one  of  the  most  un- 
fortunate men  that  ever  lived,  I  have  been  fortunate  in  some 
respects,  fortunate  in  having  a  competency  of  ready  cash,  and 
fortunate  in  having  your  friendship  since  early  childhood.  But 
friendship  is  not  enough,  however  valuable  that  may  be.  I  shall 
look  back  with  pleasure  over  the  misfortunes  of  the  past  if  you 
will  promise  to  be  my  wife.  I  know  this  is  asking  for  much  more 
than  I  deserve ;  but  my  undivided  love  for  you  does  not  allow  me 
to  ask  for  less.    Will  you  answer  me,  darling?" 

She  hung  her  head,  placed  her  hands  over  her  face  and  sat  in 
silent,  tremulous  meditation.  He  took  her  hand  in  his,  she  did 
not  draw  it  away.    He  again  said : 

"Will  you  answer  me,  dear?" 

She  hesitated,  but  finally  looked  up,  and  leaning  her  head 
against  his  manly  breast,  she  answered  in  broken  tones: 

"0  Sidney,  I  have  loved  you  since  we  played  together  in  child- 
hood's happy  hours.  I  realize  all  that  you  have  suffered  on  my 
account,  and  am  willing  to  do  all  I  can  to  make  you  happy  in  the 
future.  As  you  could  say  nothing  less  than  ask  me  to  be  yours, 
neither  can  I  say  anything  less  than  to  answer,  yes." 

"Then,  since  I  have  safely  passed  through  the  dark  night  into 
which  John  Coatney  drove  me  with  unmerciful  hand,  and  have 

250 


entered  into  the  glorious  sunshine  of  your  love,  my  only  one, 
and  mine  forever,  I  forgive  him  for  all  the  pain  he  has  caused  me 
to  suffer." 

"Dear  Sidney,"  she  said,  as  the  tears  flowed  from  her  lustrous 
blue  eyes,  "I  too  have  suffered  all  the  time  you  were  away  in  that 
horrid  prison,  and  all  because  the  treacherous  John  Coatney,  by 
some  means  unknown  to  me,  discovered  that  I  loved  you.  I  had 
long  thought  that  he  intended  to  do  you  harm,  and  that  was  the 
reason  why  I  showed  you  only  friendship  when  I  dearly  loved  you 
all  the  time.  Remember  that  'all  things  work  together  for  good 
to  them  that  love  God.'  " 

"Yes,  dear,  I  remember;  and  while  I  thank  you  for  the  explana- 
tion of  your  friendship  when  I  so  ardently  longed  for  your  love, 
let  us  unite  in  prayer  and  thank  Him  for  this  happy  hour,  and 
ask  for  a  continuation  of  his  blessings." 

They  fell  upon  their  knees  and  asked  God  to  help  them  conse- 
crate their  lives  to  his  service,  to  give  them  grateful  hearts  for 
the  consummation  of  their  wishes,  and  to  bless  their  future  lives 
with  peace  and  happiness. 

Who  will  say  such  prayers  went  unanswered? 
A  few  weeks  later  Sidney  York  and  Artemisia  Alston  were 
married.    Nearly  every  citizen  for  many  miles  around  witnessed 
the  ceremony,  and  all  extended  their  hearty  congratulations. 

The  following  year  the  Alston  and  York  families  moved  to 
Habersham  County.  It  was  there  the  writer  visited  them;  there 
he  heard  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alston  sing  their  morning  songs,  and 
there  they  told  him  the  story  of  "Cell  No.  21." 

Mrs.  Artemisia  Alston  York  often  joined  her  husband  in  the 
chase,  and  with  rifle,  horn  and  dogs  roamed  the  mountains  on 
horseback,  the  very  picture  of  health  and  still  radiantly  beauti- 
ful. 

About  this  time  Joseph  Coatney,  John  Coatney 's  father,  emi- 
grated to  Cherokee  County,  where  he  died  some  years  later.  He 
left  a  will  in  which  he  bequeathed  one  full  share  of  his  large 
estate   "to   Sidney  York  instead   of  John   Coatney,   deceased." 

251 


When  offered  the  legacy,  Sidney  York  indignantly  refused  to 
accept  it,  saying: 

"Though  I  have  forgiven  John  Coatney  for  the  great  crime  he 
has  committed,  and  though  his  father  doubtless  meant  well, 
neither  Artie  nor  myself  can  afford  to  touch  one  cent  of  his 
deeply  tainted  patrimony." 

Solomon  says  of  a  good  woman:  "The  heart  of  her  husband 
safely  trusts  in  her,  so  that  he  shall  have  no  need  of  spoil." 

Note.  For  justifiable  reasons,  the  true  names  of  some  of  the  foregoing 
characters  are  not  given. 


2r.2 


THE  HUT  OWL  IN  BORROWED  FEATHERS. 

A  STORY  IN  REAL  LIFE. 

The  Reading  of  the  Poem  Opens  Their  Eyes. 

On  the  Northeastern  [now  Southern]  railway  a  few  furlongs 
above  Harmony  Grove  [now  Commerce] ,  there  stands  a  small  log 
cabin  to  the  building  of  which  the  memory  of  man  does  not  go 
back.  Larkin  Butler,  an  old  pioneer,  said  the  "hut"  was  built  by 
John  Akin,  a  nephew  of  the  celebrated  Nancy  Hart,  in  1784,  and 
that  Tethlemaco,  the  Indian  chief,  who  at  that  time  directed  the 
councils  of  the  Cherokee  nation,  helped  do  the  work. 

Sixty  years  came  and  passed,  when  strange  to  say,  the  "Hinton 
Hut"  as  the  house  was  then  called,  seemed  to  be  nearly  as  old  as 
it  is  now  at  the  hoary  age  of  one  hundred  and  eight  years.  Many 
"split-board  roofs"  have  sheltered  its  walls;  but  its  moss-covered 
logs  are  the  same,  except,  perhaps,  the  places  that  have  been  made 
lean  by  natural  paper-makers — the  wasps  and  hornets — which 
have  for  a  full  century  been  running  their  factories  upon  the 
neighboring  fence-corners. 

For  a  number  of  years  the  cabin  had  not  been  inhabited;  but 
on  a  cool  Saturday  evening  in  April  a  rude  one-ox  cart  stopped 
near  its  ancient  doorway.  The  driver,  a  young  girl  of  some  six- 
teen summers,  having  seen  to  the  comfort  of  two  little  boys  that 
were  on  the  cart  with  her,  turned  and  anxiously  looked  in  the 
direction  from  which  she  had  come.  Presently  a  man  and  woman 
were  seen  approaching.  The  former  was  beastly  drunk  and  the 
latter  was  weeping  bitterly.  To  a  plowboy  who  gazed  over  the 
adjacent  fence  the  scene  beggared  description. 

It  was  Van  Allen  and  his  family  who,  becoming  weary  of  their 
home  in  Carolina,  were  thus  miserably  wending  their  way  to  some 
point  in  the  West.  Mary,  their  oldest  daughter,  had  gone  forward 
with  the  cart  to  select  a  camping  place,  while  the  mother  remained 
behind  to  look  after  the  drunken  father. 

253 


Soon  after  reaching  the  cart  the  man  went  to  sleep,  when,  by 
permission  of  the  owner,  Mrs.  Allen  decided  to  occupy  the  cabin 
until  morning,  little  thinking  that  it  was  to  become  her  home  for 
a  long  time. 

A  scanty  supper  of  cold  bread  was  eaten,  the  little  boys  went 
to  sleep  on  a  bed  of  straw,  and  save  the  hoarse  snoring  of  the 
drunkard  nothing  broke  the  painful  silence  of  the  mother  and 
daughter. 

Suddenly  the  snoring  ceased  and  the  demon  arose  to  his  feet 
in  a  furious  passion.  Demanding  something  to  eat,  Mary  hastened 
to  offer  him  a  piece  of  bread;  but  because  she  could  not  give 
more,  he  hurled  a  pine  knot  at  her  with  all  his  force.  Though 
she  attempted  to  evade  the  blow,  the  rough  missile  struck  her 
full  in  the  breast.  Quivering  for  a  moment  like  a  butchered  ani- 
mal, she  gave  one  gasp  and  fell  senseless  on  the  ground. 

The  plowboy,  who  at  the  time  was  preparing  to  return  home, 
witnessed  this  frightful  scene.  Though  only  seventeen  years  old, 
he  was  brave  and  muscular.  Himself  the  son  of  a  drunkard,  he 
could  readily  sympathize  with  others  in  a  similar  condition.  Be- 
sides he  was  by  nature  a  noble  boy.  This  and  more  he  had  in- 
herited from  a  good  mother  who,  like  Mrs.  Allen,  had  been 
brought  from  prosperity  and  happiness  to  shame  and  sorrow  by 
the  demon's  drink — alcohol. 

So  when  Clyde  Arthur,  the  plowboy,  saw  Mary  Allen  fall,  he 
leaped  the  fence  at  a  single  bound,  not  thinking  that  he  carried 
one  of  his  plowlines  with  him.  The  inhuman  father  was  ready 
for  the  fray.  The  boy,  who  had  no  desire  to  hurt  the  man,  soon 
exhausted  the  strength  of  his  antagonist,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
Van  Allen  was  tied  hand  and  foot  with  the  plowline.  He  chafed 
in  the  harness  like  a  caged  lion.  Perhaps  never  before  had  such 
horrid  oaths  jarred  against  the  walls  of  that  old  house.  Were 
its  logs  a  graphophone  or  dictagraph,  what  might  be  ground  out 
from  their  inner  depths? 

While  Clyde  was  pulling  at  the  last  knot  in  his  plowline  an- 
other character,  attracted  to  the  place  by  the  loud  ravings  of  the 
bound  man,  appeared  upon  the  scene  of  this  strange  transaction. 

254 


This  was  a  teacher*  who  at  the  time  had  a  school  at  Rock  Spring 
in  the  immediate  neighborhood ;  and  who  was  himself  a  mere  boy 
in  the  very  first  of  his  teens. 

Turning  their  attention  to  the  wounded  girl,  the  two  boys 
quickly  carried  her  to  a  neighboring  house  where  they  felt  sure 
that  Mrs.  Allen  and  her  children  would  be  kindly  received.  Nor 
were  they  disappointed. 

At  every  gasp  poor  Mary  was  expected  to  die.  Blood  flowed 
from  her  mouth  and  she  was  wholly  insensible.  Without  delay 
the  teacher  went  on  foot  for  the  nearest  physician  who  lived  ten 
miles  distant,  and  a  little  before  sunrise  on  the  following  morn- 
ing, Dr.  Crawford  W.  Long,  the  distinguished  discoverer  of 
anaesthetics,  stood  by  the  suffering  stranger. 

The  next  morning  while  packing  his  medicines  to  return  home, 
the  good  doctor,  having  observed  the  anxiety  manifested  by 
Clyde  and  the  teacher  requested  that  they  be  admitted  to  the 
room.  Timidly  entering,  Dr.  Long  informed  them  that  the  crisis 
was  past  and  that  his  patient  would  live. 

Then  softly  going  near  the  bed  and  gazing  at  the  quietly 
sleeping  stranger,  they  for  the  first  time  fully  realized  how  beauti- 
ful— how  very  beautiful,  Mary  Allen  was. 

At  the  close  of  four  anxious  weeks  Mrs.  Allen  and  her  children 
returned  to  the  Hint  on  hut  which  had,  in  the  meantime,  been 
secured  as  at  least  their  temporary  home. 

In  those  days  school  life  in  the  rural  districts  was  not  like  it 
is  now.  The  school  at  Rock  Spring  was  large  and  contained  many 
different  characters.  A  few  still  live,  but  most  of  them  are 
dead.  Some  were  rich  and  some  were  poor — very  poor.  Some 
were  dull,  others  intellectual  and  ambitious.  A  few  of  their 
names  have  passed  into  history.  Gen.  W.  T.  Milligan,  one  of  the 
first  heroes  who  gave  his  life  for  the  "Lost  Cause,"  and  Emeline 
Maddox,  who  bravely  carried  the  colors  of  her  husband's  regi- 
ment over  the  bloody  field  of  Shiloh,  and  who  performed  an  an- 
gel's mission  at  the  close  of  Albert  Sidney  Johnson's  heroic  life 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  knew  them  best. 

*The  teacher  was  the  author.  He  began  teaching  when  13  years  old 
and  was  17  when  this  school  opened. — Ed. 

255 


But  perhaps  the  most  interesting  feature  of  the  school  was 
"Class  No.  1."  It  was  composed  of  sixteen  young  ladies,  most 
of  whom  were  immensely  wealthy — all  of  unblemished  character, 
beautiful  and  highly  intellectual. 

Over  this  pleasing  feature,  however,  the  pride  and  vanity  of 
about  half  the  class  sometimes  caused  a  dark  cloud  to  gather— a 
feature  which  in  those  days  often  served  to  grind  the  poor  into 
the  very  dust. 

Soon  after  Mary  Allen's  recovery  she  was  induced  to  become 
a  pupil  in  the  Rock  Spring  school.  To  the  surprise  of  all  her 
entrance  examination  showed  that  she  was  already  a  good  Eng- 
lish scholar  and  well  advanced  in  some  of  the  higher  branches. 
This  at  once  placed  her  in  Class  No.  1. 

Though  poor  and  obscure,  she  was  uncommonly  beautiful,  very 
intelligent,  of  pleasing  address,  and  the  very  soul  of  honor.  But 
in  the  estimation  of  some  of  her  classmates  these  sterling  qualities 
weighed  little  against  gold  and  silver.  They  frowned  upon  her 
in  school  and  cut  her  acquaintance  in  society.  Some  called  her  a 
"cart-driver,"  and  others  a  "pauper."  One,  the  leader  of  the 
class,  publicly  called  her  "The  Hut  Owl  in  Borrowed  Feathers," 
using  the  term  feathers  in  allusion  to  the  flowing  curls  of  jet- 
black  hair  that  fell  in  festoons  over  her  symmetrical  shoulders. 

This  cruel  conduct  was  their  only  serious  fault  and  can  be  at- 
tributed only  to  that  prevailing  spirit  of  the  times  which  has 
since  been  characterized  as  "the  hot  blood  of  the  old  Southern 
lord." 

Although  these  taunts  were  felt  with  the  keenest  anguish,  their 
victim  usually  met  them  with  tears  only.  The  rest  died  away  in 
the  silence  of  her  noble  breast. 

However,  the  time  came  when  even  with  the  gentle  nature  of 
Mary  Allen  "forbearance  ceased  to  be  a  virtue." 

One  lovely  Sabbath  several  of  her  class  met  her  at  church  and 
in  a  conspicious  way  refused  to  recognize  her  presence.  Her 
heart  bled  at  every  pore  and  for  once  she  resolved  upon  some  sort 
of  revenge. 

Compositions  and  essays  were  not  so  common  then  as  now, 
Rock  Spring  being  one  of  the  few  schools  where  such  exercises 

256 


were  required.  Then  original  eomposition  was  regarded  a  great 
task;  but  to  Mary  Allen  this  kind  of  work  was  no  task  at  all. 
This  her  classmates  well  knew;  and  while  most  of  them  would 
have  scorned  a  proposition  to  wear  her  bonnet,  none  had  any 
particular  objections  to  presenting  her  thoughts  as  their  own. 

So  as  the  time  for  the  public  exercises  of  the  school  drew 
near  Mary's  facile  pen  was  laid  under  heavy  tribute.  The  week 
following  the  neglect  shown  at  church  various  members  of  her 
class  politely  requested  her  to  write  for  them. 

"Mary,"  said  the  wealthy  Lucy  Graves,  "as  it  is  such  an  easy 
matter  for  you  to  write,  will  you  kindly  assist  me?" 

"I  will  on  two  conditions,"  replied  the  former,  thoughtfully. 

"And  what  are  they?"  asked  the  latter. 

"That  you  allow  me  to  select  the  subject  and  tell  no  one  that 
I  am  the  author, ' '  was  the  firm  reply. 

"I  will  do  that  gladly,"  promised  Lucy. 

"Then  call  on  me  one  hour  hence,"  said  Mary,  "and  my 
thoughts  on  Toil,  Pain  and  Tears,  will  be  at  your  service." 

At  the  time  appointed  the  two  met,  when  Lucy  said : 

"Read  Mary,  for  you  are  a  better  reader  than  I  am." 

Announcing  her  subject  as  was  the  custom  of  those  days,  Miss 
Allen  proceeded : 

"Away  back  in  the  far-gone  ages  when  Mother  Time  was 
singing  her  nursery  hymn,  the  white-winged  Messenger  of  peace 
hovered  over  earth,  and  Toil,  Pain  and  Tears  were  unknown  to 
mortals. 

"But  as  time  rolled  on  an  arch  enemy  appeared  upon  the 
scene,  when  the  guardian  Messenger  sadly  folded  her  snowy  wings 
and  a  piercing  cry,  never  heard  on  earth  before,  reached  from 
pole  to  pole.  The  crystal  waters  of  Eden  assumed  a  leaden  hue 
and  a  turbulent  flood,  laden  with  Toil,  Pain  and  Tears  rolled  on 
without  a  shore." 

At  the  close  of  this  paragraph  their  eyes  met.  A  pearly  tear 
was  stealing  down  Lucy's  rosy  cheek.  This  was  chased  away  by 
Mary's  tender  hand,  when  she  proceeded  to  read  the  entire  paper 
of  some  ten  minutes  in  length. 

257 


Again  their  eyes  met.  The  first  tear  was  the  forerunner  of 
many  others.  These,  too,  were  chased  away  by  the  same  gentle 
hand,  and  while  doing  so  the  "pauper"  girl  received  the  first 
kiss  ever  offered  by  any  one  of  her  class. 

Separating  on  terms  more  sociable  than  ever  before,  one  went 
to  rest  at  her  ease — the  other  to  brook  the  importunities  of 
others  to  write  for  them  also. 

Overwork  at  school,  overwork  at  home,  added  to  the  many  sor- 
rows she  had  to  bear  at  both  places  proved  to  be  too  much  for 
the  poor  girl's  power  of  endurance.  Suddenly  her  nerves  gave 
way  and  for  several  weeks  she  was  unable  to  attend  school. 

As  a  preparatory  measure  for  the  forthcoming  public  exercises 
the  members  present  of  Mary  Allen's  class  were  called  to  read 
their  respective  papers.  Perhaps,  fortunately,  she  was  still  ab- 
sent. Understanding  that  only  those  who  had  read  should  be 
present  at  the  reading  of  another,  the  teacher  glanced  at  the 
class  roll  and  announced  the  first  name.  Miss  Anna  Dickson. 

Promptly  that  young  lady  took  her  position,  and  announcing 
her  subject  to  be,  "Toil,  Pain  and  Tears,"  began: 

"Away  back  in  the  far-gone  ages  when  Mother  Time  was  sing- 
ing her  nursery  hymn,  the  white-winged  Messenger  of  peace 
hovered  over  earth,  and  Toil,  Pain  and  Tears  were  unknown  to 
mortals." 

Word  for  word  as  Mary  Allen  had  written  for  Lucy  Graves, 
did  Anna  Dickson  read  to  the  end,  and  then  took  her  seat  to  wit- 
ness the  performance  of  those  who  were  to  follow. 

Next  came  Eliza  Hampton  who,  after  saying  her  theme  was 
"Toil,  Pain  and  Tears,"  proceeded: 

"Away  back  in  the  far-gone  ages  when  Mother  Time  was  sing- 
ing her  nursery  hymn,"  and  so  on,  she  continued  to  repeat  Miss 
Dickson's  words  to  the  close,  and  took  her  seat,  also. 

But  Miss  Hampton  saw  that  something  was  wrong.  The  teacher 
was  puzzled  and  hurried  to  the  next  name.  Lucy  Graves,  saying 
"Toil,  Pain  and  Tears"  was  her  subject,  she,  too,  began: 

"Away  back  in  the  far-gone  ages,"  and  thus  following  her 
two  classmates  about  half  way  through,  she  became  so  embar- 
rassed at  their  appearance  that  she  could  read  no  further. 

258 


Wishing  to  relieve  them  in  some  way,  the  teacher  remarked, 
"There  appears  to  be  a  remarkable  similarity  in  the  sentiments 
of  the  class.  That  we  may  see  if  this  unity  of  mind  goes  any  fur- 
ther the  usher  will  please  introduce  Miss  Ballard." 

Except  Mary  Allen,  Evie  Ballard  was  one  of  the  most  noble 
pupils  in  school.  Like  the  others  she  said  the  title  of  her  paper 
was   "Toil,   Pain   and   Tears,"    and   began: 

"Away  back  in  the  far-gone  ages"— but  at  the  word  "ages" 
her  three  classmates  ran  from  the  room  and  left  her  standing 
in  blank  astonishment.  The  teacher  hastened  to  explain  the 
situation,  and  going  with  Evie  they  found  that  nine  of  the  class 
had  the  same  essay  word  for  word.  The  class  was  greatly  morti- 
fied at  the  discovery,  but  all  now  saw  that  Mary  Allen's  beauti- 
ful production  was  a  pathetic  comparison  of  her  own  condition 
with  that  of  her  aristocratic  classmates.  At  this  their  hearts, 
naturally  good,  at  once  melted,  and  every  one  began  to  weep. 
This  was  their  teacher's  opportunity  to  do  the  greatest  work  of 
his  life. 

Going  with  the  class  to  the  old  cabin  where  Mary  Allen  still 
lived  they  found  her  in  a  much  better  condition  than  when  she 
left  school. 

"You  have  sold  us  all  out"  said  Minna  Lane,  the  leader.  "For- 
give us,  and  let  us  always  be  friends." 

"I  freely  forgive  all,"  replied  Mary,  "but  I  can  not  forget 
that  horrid  name— 'The  Hut  Owl  in  Bor !'  " 

"I  take  it  all  back  and  gladly  substitute  'angel'  in  its  place," 
interrupted  the  leader,  and  throwing  her  arms  around  Mary,  the 
embrace  went  round  until  every  member  of  the  class  had  asked 
and  received  forgiveness.  Nor  did  she  ever  again  suffer  at  any 
one  of  their  hands. 

The  following  winter  Van  Allen  filled  a  drunkard's  grave.  The 
next  spring  Mrs.  Allen  and  her  children  were  carried  by  her 
brother  to  the  far  West.  As  their  teamster,  Clyde  Arthur  went 
with  them. 


Thirty-six  years  after  a  man  stood  upon  Lookout  Mountain, 
gazing  now  at  the  city  of  Chattanooga  below,  and  then  at  the 

259 


heights  above,  where,  on  a  hedge  of  rocks  stood  a  lady  and 
gentleman  of  elegant  and  commanding  appearance. 

Going  near  the  place  where  they  stood  a  mutual  recognition 
took  place — the  two  extended  their  hands — the  man  leaped  upon 
the  rocks,  and  Mary  Allen,  Clyde  Arthur  and  their  Eock  Spring 
teacher  all  in  full  abounding  joy,  again  stood  face  to  face. 

Mary  Allen  had  become  Clyde  Arthur's  wife.  He  had  studied 
law,  had  passed  through  the  late  war  with  honor  and  distinction, 
and  returning  home,  had  been  elected  governor  of  his  adopted 
State — was  then  serving  his  second  term  in  that  high  office  where 
"The  Hut  Owl  in  Borrowed  Feathers"  had  become  "the  first 
lady"  of  the  land  in  which  she  lived,  and  an  "angel"  in  her  ele- 
gant western  home  as  well. 


2{H) 


THE  REBEL  GIRL  AT  POST  NO.  1.* 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Search  for  the  Rebel. 

Soon  after  the  skirmish  between  the  Confederate  and  the 
Federal  forces  at  Bridgeport,  Tenn.,  in  the  early  spring  of  1862, 
both  parties  began  to  move  up  the  Tennessee  river,  the  former 
occupying  its  eastern  and  the  latter  its  western  bank.  A  little 
before  reaching  Long  Island,  which  is  a  few  hours  march  below 
Chattanooga,  they  halted  within  view  of  each  other,  and  for 
several  days  something  like  peaceful  relations  seemed  to  exist  be- 
tween them.  Firing  across  the  river  ceased,  and  sometimes  the 
blue  and  the  gray  exchanged  coffee  and  tobacco  on  one  or  the 
other  of  its  banks. 

Suddenly,  however,  a  Federal  regiment  moved  north  and 
spread  its  tents  on  an  open  plain  several  hundred  yards  below 
the  point  where  the  river  divides  in  about  equal  portions  at  the 
island.  Thus  the  distance  between  the  opposing  forces  was  in- 
creased by  the  breadth  of  the  island,  which  was  here  about  the 
fourth  of  a  mile,  and  by  a  narrow  swamp  which  intervened  be- 
tween the  river  and  the  Federal  camp. 

Hitherto  neither  party  had  attempted  to  occupy  the  island,  but 
as  this  latter  movement  of  the  enemy  somewhat  puzzled  the  Con- 
federates, they  decided  to  investigate  the  matter,  without,  how- 
ever, any  hostile  intention. 

Accordingly  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  day  of  June  a  de- 
tachment consisting  of  sixty  picked  men  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  J.  T.  Atwater,  crossed  the  eastern  branch  of  the  river,  and 
quietly  took  possession  of  that  part  of  the  island  which  was  sup- 
posed to  be  opposite  the  enemy's  camp.  The  dense  growth  on 
the  intervening  swamp  cut  off  all  signs  of  their  presence,  and  if 

*This  beautiful  little  story  has  little  or  no  connection  with  the  early 
history  of  Jackson  County;  but  it  is  here  inserted  because  the  Editor  feels 
that    the    reader    will    appreciate    and    enjoy    it. 

261 


any  pickets  occupied  its  margins  they  were  not  seen.  Two  small 
log  houses  stood  near  their  landing,  and  though  corn  and  pota- 
toes grew  near  them,  they  were  unoccupied.  Most  of  the  ground 
was  covered  by  large  trees  on  whose  ponderous  limbs  squirrels 
were  playing  and  amid  whose  dense  foliage  birds  were  singing 
their  morning  madrigals. 

After  becoming  familiar  with  his  surroundings  Capt.  Atwater 
proceeded,  about  dark,  to  establish  a  line  of  picket  posts  along 
something  less  than  half  a  mile  of  the  western  boundary  of  the 
island.  Near  the  river,  and  a  little  below  what  was  thought  to 
be  about  the  center  of  the  Federal  camp,  stood  a  huge  sycamore 
tree  which  the  corporal  of  the  guard  designated  as  Post  No.  1. 
To  this  he  assigned  Jim  Warren,  a  tall,  muscular  and  brave  Con- 
federate in  the  flush  of  young  manhood's  prime.  Though  he  knew 
there  were  not  men  enough  on  the  island  to  relieve  him  during  the 
night,  his  task  was  comparatively  easy  because,  for  an  unknown 
distance  below,  the  river-bank  was  too  steep  and  rugged  to  re- 
quire much  attention. 

When  an  hour  and  more  had  passed  the  impressive  silence  was 
suddenly  broken  by  a  shout  beyond  the  swamp:  "Wake  up, 
Johnny  Reb,  will  you  sleep  all  night?" 

The  words  came  in  such  clear  and  distinct  tones  they  seemed 
almost  to  walk  through  the  still  night  air.  Evidently  the  shout 
was  "a  feeler"  to  ascertain  if  the  island  was  occupied  by  Con- 
federates. It  was  so  regarded,  and  the  solitary  picket  remained 
silent  and  was  bothered — bothered  because  he  had  certainly 
heard  that  voice  before,  but  when  and  where  he  could  not  think. 

Hitherto  he  had  stood  as  motionless  as  the  great  tree  itself; 
but  now  he  became  restless  and  longed  to  take  a  stroll  among 
the  great  trees  around  him,  and  in  their  solitude  possibly  call  to 
mind  by  whom  the  clean  cut  words  just  heard  were  probably 
spoken. 

But  Jim  AVarren  was  too  brave  to  leave  his  post  for  any  selfish 
purpose,  and  noticing  that  the  fog  over  the  river  began  to  emit 
enough  light  to  enable  him  to  dimly  see  the  outline  of  objects 
near  the  bank,  he  assumed  a  less  conspicious  position  by  re- 
clining on  the  sand  at  his  feet.     While  still  trying  to  solve  the 

262 


mystery  connected  with  the  seemingly  familiar  voice  he  was  sud- 
denly brought  to  a  sitting  posture  by  hearing  a  distinct  ripple 
in  the  water  below,  the  point  from  which  he  least  expected  any 
one  to  come.  To  his  amazement  the  ghostly  light  had  increased 
enough  to  enable  him  to  see  a  large  tree  which  had  fallen  into 
the  water  seven  or  eight  feet  below  him.  While  merely  glancing 
at  this  another  ripple,  more  distinct  than  before,  reached  his 
wide-open  ears.  He  cautiou.sly  crawled  nearer  the  water  and 
soon  he  discovered  a  small  canoe  coming  towards  him.  It  was 
hugging  the  bank  closely,  and  contained,  as  well  as  he  could  see, 
one  person.  Cautiously  it  glided  on  until  it  touched  the  fallen 
tree  lightly.  Quick  as  thought  almost  its  solitary  occupant  step- 
ped upon  the  prostrate  tree  and  listened  intently.  Had  a  thunder- 
bolt come  crashing  from  the  cloudless  sky  Jim  Warren  could  not 
have  been  more  astonished.  A  woman  was  standing  on  the  log! 
She  was  of  small  size,  and  her  movements  indicated  prompt 
action  and  wonderful  agility.  Having  stood  motionless  for  a 
short  time,  she  suddenly  turned,  and  going  towards  the  top  of 
the  tree,  towed  the  boat  beyond  the  picket's  view. 

Instead  of  going  around  the  tree  as  he  expected,  she  presently 
came  running  back  along  the  log  with  perfect  ease,  and  leaping 
on  the  clayroot  turned  up  by  the  tree,  at  a  single  bound,  she 
flitted  by  him  like  a  shadow  and  disappeared  in  the  great  syca- 
more tree,  which,  for  that  night,  at  least,  the  disconcerted  soldier 
had  exclusively  claimed  as  his  own. 

Though  not  superstitious  above  educated  men  in  general,  Jim 
more  than  half  believed  that  he  had  seen  a  very  ghost.  The  form 
as  seen  in  the  half-illuminating  fog;  the  ease  and  speed  vnih 
which  the  log  was  followed ;  the  airy  leap  made  to  reach  the  top 
of  the  clay-root ;  the  ethereal  form  with  seeming  wings  that  passed 
by  him,  and  the  sudden  disappearance  into  what  he  thought  Avas 
a  solid  tree,  staggered  all  belief  in  any  flesh-and-blood  theory  that 
the  mystified  soldier  could  imagine. 

To  a  brave  man  the  thought  that  his  post  w^as  in  the  possession 
of  another  being  of  some  kind  was  extremely  humiliating;  and  to 
this  day  Jim  Warren  has  never  been  able  to  say  what  he  would 

263 


have  done  if  the  trying  scenes  which  soon  followed  had  not  taken 
place. 

He  was  considering  the  propriety  of  calling  for  help  by  means 
of  a  pre-arranged  signal ;  but  before  deciding  the  matter,  another 
movement  in  the  water  below  attracted  his  attention.  It  was  not 
like  the  soft  ripple  first  heard,  but  evidently  the  strong  stroke 
of  a  rapidly  dipping  oar.  Nearer  and  more  audible  it  came  until 
a  boat — such  as  fishermen  sometimes  use  on  the  western  rivers — 
swiftly  came  in  sight.  Two  men  were  in  it,  the  one  in  the  stern 
was  rowing  as  if  for  life.  Suddenly,  and  with  what  seemed  to 
be  increased  power,  the  boat  struck  the  prostrate  tree  with  such 
force  that  both  men  were  thrown  from  their  seats. 

"D — n  the  log,"  muttered  a  coarse  voice  as  both  men  scrambled 
to  their  feet. 

"What '11  uses  do  now,  boss?"  asked  the  other  in  quite  a  differ- 
ent tone. 

"I  hardly  know,"  said  the  first  speaker,  rubbing  his  bruised 
hands.  "She,"  he  continued  after  rubbing  and  grunting  awhile, 
"has  not  come  this  far  up  the  river."  "I  tole  yer,  boss,  she  done 
go  down  de  riber."  "No,  Tom  said  she  came  up  it,  and  he  knows. 
But  if  she  had  come  this  far  this  log  would  have  stopped  her  like 
it  has  us ;  and  to  go  around  it  would  have  carried  her  too  near  our 
boys  on  the  other  side.  Col.  Cummins'  regiment  is  about  opposite 
this  point  and  his  Bay  State  boys  would  shoot  at  the  devil  him- 
self." 

"So  de  game  done  played,  am  it,  boss?"  again  asked  the  other. 
"No,"  was  the  snarling  reply,  "No,  not  by  a  long  shot.  Sure  as 
I  am  Captain  Phil  Dimple,  I'll  yet  have  the  Rebel  Girl,  as  they 
love  to  call  her,  for  my  wife.  In  such  times  as  these  she'll  soon 
learn  to  love  me.  But  before  we  go  further  I  want  you  to  again 
swear  that  you'll  be  true  to  the  trust  I've  already  placed  in  your 
keeping." 

"Fo,  God,  Joe  swears,  Cap'n,"  said  he  who  from  the  first  was 
thought  to  be  a  negro. 

As  Captain  Dimple  failed  to  notice  that  Joe  did  not  swear  to 
any  particular  thing,  he  seemed  satisfied  and  continued: 

"I'm  of  the  opinion  that  we  have  passed  by  the  little  jade,  and 

264 


think  that  her  intention  is  to  strike  across  the  country  to  White- 
sides  where  she  has  an  uncle  living.  The  route  she  is  most  likely 
to  take  lies  a  little  above  this  island;  and  if  she  ran  under  some 
bank,  as  I  think  she  did,  to  avoid  being  overtaken,  she'll  shoot 
up  stream  like  an  arrow  and  must  of  necessity  come  to  this  log. 
I'll  conceal  myself  and  be  ready  to  keep  her  from  falling  into 
the  water  when  she  strikes  it. 

"Now,  Joe,"  the  miserable  man  continued,  "I  want  you  to  go 
down  the  river  to  the  bluff  where  we  left  Tom.  I'll  arrange  my 
blanket  to  look  like  a  man  in  the  dark,  so  that  when  you  pass  her 
hiding  place  she'll  think  we  are  both  returning.  To  allow  her 
good  time  to  reach  here  remain  at  the  bluff  about  an  hour  and 
come  back  here  within  less  than  two  hours,  if  possible.  If  you 
find  Tom  bring  him  with  you.  If  necessary  to  use  them  don't 
forget  that  the  pass  word  is  'Mitchell,'  and  the  countersign 
'Shell  Moina.'     Do  you  understand  me  this  time?" 

"Sartin  sho,  Cap'n,"  answered  the  negro  with  some  in- 
difference. 

The  blanket  was  arranged  to  look  something  like  a  man  in  a 
stooping  posture,  and  the  boat,  apparently  carrying  two  men, 
soon  disappeared  in  the  midnight  darkness. 

And  now  came  the  supreme  moment.  Something  like  small 
pebbles  were  heard  falling  in  the  water.  The  Captain  was  evi- 
dently climbing  the  bank.  Not  wishing  to  make  any  noise  the 
picket  shifted  his  gun  to  the  left  and  drew  a  long  knife  from  his 
belt.  Presently  a  figure  as  if  coming  out  of  the  earth  stood  bolt 
upright  near  a  small  tree  behind  which  Jim  Warren  was  standing. 

"Hands  up,  sir,"  came  the  ominous  command. 

Perhaps  the  astonished  man  did  not  see  the  drawn  knife,  but 
the  gun  on  the  left  only.  At  any  rate  he  was  very  quick  to 
draw  a  side  weapon,  and  when  almost  ready  to  pull  on  his  as- 
sailant, the  long  knife  was  driven  to  the  hift  in  his  breast. 

A  bitter  oath,  a  spasmodic  bound,  a  heavy  fall  and  all  was 
over  with  the  self-styled  Captain  Phil  Dimple. 

To  the  solitary  picket,  surrounded  by  the  thickening  events  of 
the  night,  and  by  nature  devoted  to  all  the  endearments  of  peace 
and  good  will  to  men,  the  time  was  a  trying  one. 

265 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Girl  in  the  Hollow  Tree. 

When  satisfied  that  the  tragedy  just  enacted  had  not  given  any 
alarm  over  the  river,  Jim  Warren  gave  three  hoots  in  imitation 
of  the  night-owl.  This,  "too-hoo-too-hoo-hoo,"  repeated  three 
times,  was  the  pre-arranged  signal  call  for  help  from  Post  No.  2, 
which,  being  regarded  as  the  danger  point,  was  supplied  with 
several  men. 

In  response,  Loyd  King,  a  fearless,  quick-witted  little  man 
quickly  appeared  upon  the  scene.  While  Jim  was  explaining 
the  situation  to  him,  a  low,  plaintive  voice  was  heard,  saying : 

"This  way,  gentlemen;  for  I  have  some  reason  to  think  you  are 
my  friends." 

"It's  a  ghost,  Jim,  in  possession  of  your  post,"  whispered 
hoyd  King. 

Nothing  daunted,  however,  both  went  forward,  and  a  woman, 
coming  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  big  tree,  boldly  met  them. 
Jim  at  once  recognized  her  as  the  same  little  creature  that  had 
come  in  the  boat,  and  consequently  as  the  intended  victim  of  the 
monster  who  had  followed  her. 

"I  place  myself,"  she  said  with  much  embarrassment,  "under 
your  protection,  at  least  until  I  tell  you  something  of  my  fearful 
condition.  Then  you  can  decide  as  to  whether  I  am  entitled  to 
it  or  not.  Some  months  ago  we  came  as  refugees  from  Western 
Tennessee  to  my  father's  plantation  in  this  immediate  vicinity. 
Hence  my  familiarity  with  this  part  of  the  country.  As  fate 
would  have  it,  we,  only  a  few  days  ago,  found  ourselves  inside 
the  Federal  lines,  and  being  unable  to  pass  through  them  with  all 
the  family,  went  to  Huntsville,  Alabama,  which  is  my  present 
home.  We  felt  more  secure  there,  but  were  mistaken.  To-day  a 
little  before  10  o'clock,  when  my  parents  were  temporarily  ab- 
sent, Phil  and  Tom  Dimple,  two  renegade  Tennesseans,  and 
whom  I  have  known  since  early  childhood,  kidnapped  me  and 
brought  me  to  Bridgeport,  a  few  miles  below  this  place.     The 

266 


negro  Joe,  who  has  just  gone  down  the  river,  and  who  has  been 
my  friend  and  faithful  servant  all  my  life,  followed  us,  and  in 
some  way  managed  to  become  my  guard  while  the  Dimples  were 
eating  supper.  He  is  very  shrewd,  and  when,  a  little  after  dark, 
he  motioned  me  to  follow  him,  I  did  so  without  hesitation.  At 
full  speed  he  took  me  in  his  arms  to  the  river  and  put  me  in 
a  little  boat  which  a  friend  of  his  had  provided  for  the  occasion. 
Advising  me  to  hasten  to  my  'tree-home'  as  he  calls  this  big 
sycamore,  he  said  he'd  be  here  in  the  morning  to  carry  me  to 
Whitesides,  where  Uncle  John  Gailey  lives,  and  then  disappeared. 

"It  seems,"  she  continued,  "from  what  I  heard  in  the  rene- 
gade's boat,  that  Joe  tried  to  keep  them  off  my  track  by  saying 
I  went  down  the  river.  Failing  in  this  he  has  somehow  managed  to 
continue  in  their  service,  and,  in  my  opinion,  he'll  never  leave 
them  until  he  knows  I  am  beyond  their  power.  Thus 
you  see  how  much  I  am  indebted  to  him;  but,' 
kneeling  at  Jim's  feet,  she  kept  on,  "I  owe  you  a  debt 
of  gratitude  that  all  of  life  can  never  pay,  but  not  greater  than 
my  heart  can  feel.  If  Tom  Dimple,  Phil's  brother,  does  come 
here  to-night  I  need  not  tell  such  men  as  you  what  course  to 
pursue  further  than  to  ask  that  you  protect  Joe." 

"The  battle  necessary  to  the  protection  of  yourself  and  friends 
and  the  punishment  of  those  who  would  harm  you  will  be  fought 
to  the  finish,"  said  Jim,  raising  the  little  creature  to  her  feet. 
"Now,"  he  continued  with  some  hesitation,  "please  tell  us  how 
you  managed  to  get  into  this  big  tree?" 

"Dear  me,"  she  answered  as  if  a  smile  were  playing  over  her 
features,  "the  tree  is  hollow.  There  is  room  enough  inside  for 
several  persons.  To  the  north  there  is  a  natural  opening  through 
which  I  have  often  passed  before  to-night.  I  have  frequently 
been  here  with  various  parties  and  sometimes  alone.  We  made 
this  place  a  sort  of  headquarters,  and  the  hollow  tree  served  as  a 
shelter  when  it  rained.  It  served  me  a  good  purpose  to-night. 
From  there  I  heard  Phil  Dimple's  plans  to  recapture  me,  and 
through  a  small  opening  which  father  made  for  ventilation,  I 
saw  you  strike  him.  I  did  not  know  of  your  presence  until  that 
moment.     Somehow   I   knew   you   to   be   a   Confederate   soldier. 


267 


They  call  me  the  Rebel  Girl,  and  hence  my  trust  in  you  and 
your  companion." 

"Your  trust  is  not  misplaced,"  said  Jim  Warren. 

"Amen  and  amen,"  chimed  in  Loyd  King  shifting  his  weight 
from  one  foot  to  the  other.  This  was  a  sure  sign  that  he  was 
ready  for  action  to  the  death. 

"Now,"  whispered  Jim  to  the  girl,  "please  retire  to  your  tree- 
home  and  we'll  do  the  rest.    We  must  now  talk  low." 

"No,"  she  softly  replied,  "I'll  remain  with  you.  If  necessary 
I  can  materially  aid  you.  See!"  and  from  a  wrapper  that  was 
over  her  shoulders  she  took  a  bow  and  a  small  bundle  of  arrows. 
"With  these,"  she  continued,  "my  friends  say  I  am  an  expert. 
When  here  some  days  ago  I  left  them  in  the  tree  with  the  ex- 
pectation of  returning  next  morning.  But  that  very  day  the 
enemy  drew  their  lines  and  would  not  let  me  pass  through  them. 
Though  at  a  fearful  cost  they  are  mine  again,  and  I  prefer  to  use 
them  because  they  are  silent." 

"And  so  is  mine,"  said  Jim,  showing  his  great  knife  yet  stained 
with  blood. 

This  seemed  to  have  the  desired  effect  on  the  resolute  girl, 
and  she  reluctantly  retired,  leaving  Jim  AVarren  to  speculate 
upon  the  difference  between  a  lovely  form  in  real  life  and  the 
gliding  of  a  ghost  into  Avhat  he  at  first  thought  was  a  solid  tree. 

In  the  meantime  Loyd  King  returned  to  his  post  to  give  such 
information  as  would  prevent  the  corporal  of  the  guard  from 
coming  to  Post  No.  1  while  the  watch  for  the  return  boat  was  on. 
When  he  came  back  the  two  soldiers  concealed  themselves  near 
the  roots  of  the  fallen  tree  and  anxiously  awaited  the  coming  of 
"Tom."  For  a  little  while  they  watched  the  large  tree  play 
back  and  forth  on  the  surface  of  the  sullen  water  without  seeing 
or  hearing  anything  unusual. 

Jim  Warren  was  restless  and  uncomfortable — uncomfortable 
because  he  had  arrayed  himself  in  Captain  Dimple's  blue  uni- 
form ;  and  though  the  fit  was  fairly  good,  he  felt  like  he  was  in- 
cased in  sheet-iron.  By  this  unpleasant  transformation  and  a 
change  of  voice  he  thought  he  could,  at  that  dark  hour,  pass  for 
Capt.  Dimple. 

268 


More  than  the  time  allotted  for  the  return  of  the  boat  had 
passed.  Loyd  was  "spoiling"  to  say  something  and  at  last 
whispered : 

"Say,  Jim,  don't  let  that  little  mortal,  if  she  be  mortal,  see 
you  wearing  that  blue  suit.    You  bet  she  is " 

' ' Hush  ! ' '  softly  said  Jim.  ' '  I  think  I  hear  the  boat  coming, ' '  he 
continued  after  a  pause.  "Yes,  I  know  the  long  sweeping  strokes 
of  the  negro." 

Leaving  Loyd  on  the  bank,  he  crawled  upon  the  floating  tree, 
and  tried  to  pierce  the  gloom  that  brooded  over  the  water.  Near- 
er and  nearer  came  the  muffled  strokes,  until  he  could  see  the 
outlines  of  a  boat  with  two  men  in  it. 

"Halt!  Who  comes  there?"  asked  the  sentinel. 

"Mitchell,"  answered  a  strange  voice. 

*  *  Advance,  Mitchell,  and  give  the  countersign. "  "  Hall  Zenus, ' ' 
quickly  responded  the  negro. 

"Shell  Moina,"  added  the  stranger  before  Jim  could  speak. 

"Pass  on,  but  who  is  that  with  you,  Joe?" 

"Massa  Tom." 

"Glad  you  come  Tom — mind  Joe,  here's  the  log." 

With  graduated  strokes  the  boat  touched  the  fallen  tree,  and 
as  Tom  awkardly  scrambled  upon  it,  he  hurriedly  asked : 

"Did  she  come,  Phil?" 

"Certainly!  Get  out  quick!  There  is  trouble  brewing  along 
the  rebel  lines  and  we  must  leave  here  at  once.  Make  no  noise," 
said  the  supposed  Phil  Dimple,  stepping  back  on  the  log  so  as  to 
place  the  man  in  front. 

"Where  is  she?"  asked  Tom,  greatly  excited. 

"Yonder,"  said  Jim  pointing  to  a  tall  tree  which  stood  a 
little  distance  from  the  true  one. 

Just  as  the  three  men  were  passing  the  place  where  Loyd 
King  was  concealed,  Jim  Warren  cautiously  said : 

"Stop,  Tom,  let  me  go  before." 

This  was  to  divert  the  man's  attention,  and  before  he  could 
think  of  anything  else  the  muzzle  of  an  English  rifle  was  at  his 
breast,  and  with  the  action  came  the  stern  command : 

"Surrender  or  die." 

269 


His  hands  went  up  slowly  and  Tom  Dimple  was  a  prisoner. 
"And  you  too,  Joe,  this  is  not  Phil  Dimple,"  said  Jim  Warren 
touching  the  negro. 

"God-a-mity — who  am  it  den?" 

"The  friend  of  your  young  mistress." 

As  Joe  fell  to  his  knees  and  clasped  Jim  in  his  arms  a  long 
dagger  fell  from  his  sleeve. 

"What  does  this  mean,  Joe,"  asked  the  soldier  picking  up  the 
knife. 

"It  means,"  was  the  reply,  "death  to  de  first  man  dat  lay 
vi'lant  hands  on  young  Missus — whar  am  she?" 

"She  is  safe  and  you  may  see  her  presently." 

Joe  arose  to  his  feet  and  began  dancing  a  jig  that  called  for 
the  exercise  of  every  muscle  in  him.  Loyd  King  characterized  it 
as  "a  double  and  twisted  green  corn  dance  that  was  never  seen 
in  all  the  world  before." 

When  Joe's  mild  dance  was  over  the  lonely  too-hoo-too-hoo-hoo, 
twice  repeated,  broke  on  the  still  night  air.  It  was  the  second 
call  for  help,  and  soon  the  corporal  of  the  guard  and  two  other 
soldiers  came  and  took  the  prisoner,  Tom  Dimple,  away. 

Jim  Warren  and  Loyd  King  remained  near  the  hollow  syca- 
more, waiting  to  learn  if  the  recent  commotion  among  them  had 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy.  By  and  by,  they  were  re- 
lieved by  hearing  the  shout  first  heard  that  night : 

"Wake  up  Johnny   Reb — 'tis   almost   day." 

Though  the  words  varied  a  little,  the  voice  was  the  same. 
Jim  was  now  satisfied  that  he  had  certainly  heard  that  voice  be- 
fore, and,  in  the  light  of  what  he  had  heard  Captain  Dimple  say  in 
the  boat,  he  was  almost  certain  that  he  knew  by  whom  the  words 
were  spoken. 

As  this  conclusion  produced  both  pleasant  and  unpleasant 
thoughts,  he  postponed  a  further  consideration  of  the  matter  un- 
til a  more  favorable  time,  and  suggested  that  he  and  Loyd  retire 
a  short  distance  for  the  purpose  of  formulating  a  plan  looking  to 
the  restoration  of  the  Rebel  Girl  to  her  people  and  that  Joe  take 
their  places. 

270 


This  the  negro  was  glad  to  do,  and,  after  remaining  at  the 
opening  in  the  tree  for  a  few  minutes,  he  began  another  of  his 
wild,  fantastic  dances  around  and  around  the  great  sycamore 
until  he  made  so  much  noise  by  striking  his  huge  feet  together 
that  Jim  had  to  stop  him.  Quietly  seating  himself  near  the  open- 
ing he  again  placed  the  ugly  knife  up  his  sleeve  and  said : 

**Any  mo'  want  young  Missus,  tell  'em  come  on — Joe  wasn't 
ready  befo',  but  is  ready  now!" 

Having  agreed  upon  a  plan  which  they  thought  would  enable 
the  suffering  girl  to  reach  her  home  in  safety,  the  two  soldiers 
indulged  in  a  few  thoughts  in  regard  to  her  personal  appearance. 
They  had  noticed  that  there  was  a  charm  in  her  movements  and 
sweet  music  in  her  voice;  but  neither  had  distinctly  seen  her 
features. 

"One  thing  is  certain,"  Jim  Warren  said  gravely,  ''she  reminds 
me  of  sister  Mary.  She  walks  like,  talks  like,  and  now  and  then 
tosses  her  head  to  one  side  just  like  sister." 

"And  more  than  th — that,"  Loyd  added,  half  choked,  for  his 
heart  beat  a  wild  tat-too  every  time  Mary  Warren's  name  was 
mentioned  in  his  presence,  "More  than  th — that,  no  one  as 
br — brave  and  spry  as  th — that  little  elf  can  be  any — anything 
less  than  bea — beautiful  like  Ma — ;  but  hush  Jim,  you  kn — know 
how  it  is!" 

Jim  thought  it  prudent  to  change  the  subject  as  suggested  by 
his  friend,  and  at  once  took  Joe's  place  as  sentinel. 

Clearing  his  throat  to  indicate  his  presence,  he  whispered : 
"Now  that  you  are  beyond  the  reach  of  the  Dimples,  how  can  we 
best  serve  you?" 

"In  the  first  place,"  came  the  answer,  "tell  me  to  whom  I  am 
indebted  for  this  great  service." 

"The  soldier  who  so  promptly  came  to  our  assistance  is  Loyd 
King,  a  Georgian,  and  is  as  gallant  a  knight  as  ever  drew  a  lance. 
I  am  a  Georgian  also,  and  my  name  is  James  Warren." 

"Warren!  Warren!  Warren!"  slowly  repeated  the  girl. 
"James  Warren  is  my  father's  name,  and  mine  is  Nellie — they 
call  me  'Nellie  Warren,  the  Kebel  Girl!'  Can  it,  0  can  it  be! 
that  we  are  of  the  same  family?" 

271 


"I  certainly  think  so.  Many  years  ago  an  uncle  of  mine,  Jos- 
eph Warren,  a  descendant  of  and  named  for  Gen.  Joseph  War- 
ren of  Bunker  Hill  fame,  emigrated  to  western  Tennessee  from 
whence  you  came.    Do  you  know  anything  of  him?" 

"Dear!  dear  me,"  exclaimed  the  the  girl,  "I  am  his  grand- 
daughter." 

"And  I  am  his  nephew,"  eagerly  said  Jim  as  he,  for  the  first 
time,  reached  his  head  into  the  opening. 

They  clasped  each  other's  hands  and  for  awhile  remained  silent. 
At  last  Nellie  said  through  her  thickly  falling  tears:  "I  thank 
God  for  this  knowledge,  and  can  now  afford  to  ask  you  if  there 
is  any  way  by  which  I  can  return  home  safely." 

"Though  the  country  from  Bridgeport  is  in  full  possession  of 
the  enemy,  I  think  we  can  manage  to  reach  Huntsville. 

"In  the  first  place  you  may  remember  that  the  voice  we  heard 
to-night,  calling  on  'Johnny  Reb  to  wake  up,'  was  uncommonly 
clear  and  musical.  It  may  surprise  you  to  know  that  I  have 
heard  the  same  voice  repeat  the  words,  'wake  up!'  many  times 
before  to-night.  Phil  Dimple  told  Joe  in  the  boat  that  Col. 
Cummins'  regiment  is  about  opposite  this  place,  and  referred  to 
his  men  as  the  'Bay  State  boys!' 

"This  means  that  the  regiment  over  the  river  is  from  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  that  Arthur  Cummins,  a  heart-treasured  friend  of 
mine,  and  a  native  of  that  State,  is  its  commander.  At  Cam- 
bridge, three  miles  from  Boston,  Arthur  Cummins  and  I  lived 
together  four  years.  We  entered  the  grand  old  University  of 
Harvard  on  the  same  day,  graduated  in  the  same  class,  and  re- 
ceived the  same  degree.  We  occupied  the  same  room  and  dined 
at  the  same  table.  From  Cambridge  I  went  home  with  him  and 
remained  nearly  three  months.  It  was  during  this  latter  period 
that  I  often  heard  him  call  to  two  younger  brothers  to  'wake 
up'  when,  as  they  frequently  did,  they  slept  too  long  to  please  him. 
There  never  has  been  a  break  in  our  love  for  one  another,  and  I 
am  not  at  all  afraid  to  test  it  again. 

"Then  in  the  second  place  I  propose  to  carry  you  home  as  a 
Federal  officer.  You  may  not  know  that  I  have  Capt.  Phil 
Dimple's  uniform,  and  it  fits  me  fairly  well.    I  wore  it  last  night 

272 


at  Tom  and  Joe's  reception.  It  fooled  them  and  I  propose  to 
keep  on  fooling  somebody  until  you  are  safe  in  your  mother's 
arms. 

"It  remains  for  me  to  get  leave  of  absence  from  my  command. 
Capt.  Atwater  will  attend  to  this  within  the  next  few  hours.  This 
afternoon  I  will  visit  my  dear  friend  over  the  river,  and  fear  not 
the  result." 

"But,"  asked  the  M^ondering  Nellie  thoughtfully,  "can  any 
good  thing  come  out  of  Massachusetts,  so  far  as  the  Southern 
Confederacy  is  concerned?" 

"So  far,"  replied  Jim,  "as  friendship  for  me  and  sympathy 
for  you  are  concerned,  I  unhesitatingly  answer,  yes." 

The  coming  day  had  already  hung  its  banners  along  the  eastern 
horizon.  A  company  of  Confederates  soon  halted  at  one  of  the 
log  cabins  near  by.  It  was  the  relief  guard,  and  Jim  Warren, 
leaving  Loyd  King  at  his  post,  went  to  meet  them. 


273 


CHAPTER  III. 
A  Cousin  Is  Discovered. 

It  was  sunrise,  that  glad  transition  from  the  gloom  of  a  dread- 
ful night  to  the  golden  light  of  a  balmy  summer  morning.  Some 
distance  beyond  the  river,  further  than  the  shouts  of  the  pre- 
ceeding  night,  the  Federal  bands  struck  up  a  lively  air,  and  now 
and  then  the  neighing  of  horses  mingled  with  the  morning  re- 
vielle.  These  were  the  only  sounds  that  greeted  the  ears  of  the 
weary  pickets  just  off  duty,  except  Jim  Warren  and  Loyd  King 
who  asked  and  received  permission  to  remain  at  Post  No.  1 
"until"  as  the  latter  expressed  it,  "the  crack  of  doom  if  neces- 
sary, ' ' 

Near  by  was  a  deep  hole  apparently  made  by  high  water.  In 
this  the  body  of  Capt.  Phil  Dimple,  wrapped  in  his  make-believe 
blanket  was  placed,  and,  when  covered  with  several  feet  of  sand, 
was  left  to  his  fate.  There,  unless  molested  by  the  same  agency 
that  dug  his  rude  grave,  his  dust  still  sleeps. 

"While  the  burial  was  going  on  Loyd  King  signaled  Jim  War- 
ren to  come  near. 

"Jim,"  said  Loyd,  in  a  perplexed  manner,  "I  just  now  took  a 
peep  into  the  hollow  tree,  and  that  little  angel  of  some  sort  is 
sleeping  like  a  kitten  on  a  hearth  rug.  I'll  swear  by  all  the 
moons  of  Jupiter  she'll  pass  for  your  sister  Mary,  anywhere. 
She's  as  pretty  as  a  rosebud  in  a  sugar  loaf,  and  looks  ten 
thousand  pounds  sweeter.  You  know  I  thought  her  beautiful 
from  the  start ;  but  the  great  scott !  I  did  not  think  such  a  scrap 
of  mortality  could  look  so  ethereal  and  divine  in  open  daylight, 
that  is,  if  she  be  mortal." 

"If  she  is  not  mortal  w^hat  is  she?"  asked  Jim. 

"Well,  now  that  I  think  of  it,  I  understand  the  whole  matter. 
This  is  a  fairy  island,  and  the  queen  of  the  whole  troop  is  at  this 
moment  sleeping  in  her  palace.  Invisible  to  us  millions  of  them 
are  hovering  around  us  noAv.  It  may  be  that  Mary  Warren  is 
a  fairy,  too,  gone  to  live  with  you,  because  you  are  a  clever  fel- 

274 


low,  Jim,  and  because  your  features,  though  not  half  so  hand- 
some, are  very  much  like  hers.  Go  and  see  for  yourself,  old 
fellow." 

Jim  went  to  the  tree  and  cautiously  looked  in.  A  bewildered 
expression  passed  over  his  features,  he  crossed  his  arms  behind 
him,  and  gazing  intently,  he  remained  motionless  for  several 
minutes.  Finally  his  arms  fell  limp  at  his  side  and  he  slowly 
walked  away.  Though  strong  among  the  strongest  men,  he  wept 
like  a  child. 

"  Ah  !  my  boy !  I  told  you  so  !  Do  you  believe  me  now  ? ' '  asked 
Loyd  tenderlj'. 

"Yes,  my  friend,  much  that  you  said  is  true.  Perhaps  you 
think  it  unmanly  of  me  to  weep;  but  as  I  think  of  the  stormy 
sea  over  which  that  little  creature  has  just  been  tossed,  and  of 
her  condition  now,  I  am  too  manly  not  to  weep.  Sure  enough 
she  is  as  much  like  sister  Mary  as  two  peas  in  a  hull.  This,  coming 
to  our  knowledge  as  it  was,  is  very  strange  indeed;  but  when  I 
tell  you  that  her  name  is  Warren — Nellie  Warren— and  that  the 
blood  which  flows  through  her  veins  flows  through  mine  also,  the 
whole  matter  presents  a  chapter  of  romance  in  real  life  that 
overcomes  me  as  I  attempt  to  read  it. 

"Even  now,"  the  speaker  continued,  "the  position  of  her  silent 
weapon  shows  how  faithfully  the  Warren  blood  has  been  trans- 
mitted down  to  this  sleeping  child  of  a  distant  generation.  An 
arrow  is  in  place,  and  I  judge  when  she  fell  asleep  her  bow  was 
ready  for  immediate  action.  Both  bow  and  arrows  appear  to  be 
of  steel,  and  the  string  of  fine  copper  wire,  all  in  keeping  with 
the  classically  turned  little  hands  which,  even  in  sleep,  seem  to 
grasp  them  firmly." 

Thought  took  the  place  of  speech  and  the  two  soldiers  sat  in 
silent  meditation.  While  thus  engaged  the  "fairy  queen"  awoke 
and  came  out  of  her  "palace"  with  bow  and  arrows  in  her  hands. 
She  was  radiantly  beautiful,  and  advanced  to  meet  them  with 
a  smile  "so  sweet,"  Loyd  King  said,  "that  it  melted  his  body  off 
of  his  legs." 

"Excuse  me,  gentlemen,"  she  said.  "I  am  heartily  ashamed  of 
so  far  forgetting  myself  as  to  fall  asleep  at  this  critical  time.    It 

275 


was  unintentional.     Besides  I  fear  such  carelessness  has  caused 
you  some  trouble." 

"0  no!"  said  Jim.  **To  you  sleep  was  of  first  importance.  To 
us  it  was  a  pleasure  to  watch  and  wait  while  you  took  the  rest 
so  much  needed.  This,  Miss  Warren,"  he  continued,  pointing  to 
Loj^d,  "is  Mr.  King,  my  lifelong  friend." 

"I  am  certainly  glad  to  meet  you,  Mr.  King.  I  thank  God  for 
such  friends  as  you  and  Mr.  "Warren." 

Loyd  touched  his  cap  with  the  grace  of  a  Chesterfield  and  re- 
luctantly returned  to  his  post  as  a  matter  of  duty. 

"My  own  cousin  Nellie,  for  by  this  endearing  title  I  may  now 
call  you,"  said  Jim,  as  Loyd  went  away,  "tell  me  where  you  left 
your  boat  last  night?    I'll  need  one  this  evening." 

"I  hid  it  among  the  brush  at  the  top  of  the  tree,  because  its 
presence  at  or  near  the  clay-root  might  have  betrayed  my  pres- 
ence, also.  If  this  little  ruse  failed,  I  expected  this  bow  to  be  my 
next  best  friend." 

"I  thank  my  good  stars  that  I  was  here  to  take  the  place  of  the 
bow,"  said  Jim,  gently  taking  her  right  hand  in  his. 

She  did  not  answer  immediately  nor  withdraw  her  hand;  but 
finally  turning  her  large  blue  eyes,  which  were  as  soft  and  liquid 
as  those  of  a  gazelle,  full  upon  him,  and  placing  her  free  hand  on 
his  shoulder,  said: 

"And  I  thank  God." 

The  soldier  felt  a  little  reproved  for  using  the  word  "stars;" 
but  as  Capt.  Atwater  was  seen  coming  across  the  island  the  con- 
versation was  dropped. 

With  a  smile  of  gladness  on  his  handsome  face,  the  Captain  ap- 
proached and  gave  the  anxious  soldier  a  paper  which  gave 
"private  James  Warren  of  the  C.  S.  A.,  leave  of  absence  for  five 
days,"  and  stipulated  that  "if  said  Warren  did  not  report  to  his 
command  within  said  time,  judgment  is  to  be  suspended  for  five 
additional  days." 

"See,"  said  the  delighted  soldier,  "what  good  time  they  give 
us.    I  think  three  days  at  most  will  carry  us  through." 


276 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Rebel  Girl  Is  Carried  Home. 

It  was  noon,  the  whirling  of  time  had  made  its  half  cycle. 

All  of  the  Confederates  except  Jim  Warren  and  Loyd  King  had 
evacuated  the  island.  They,  with  pretty  Nellie  Warren,  remained 
in  a  canoe  which  was  concealed  by  a  cluster  of  vines  that  grew 
on  the  bank  of  the  eastern  branch  of  the  river. 


Just  at  2  o'clock  Jim  Warren  went  to  one  of  the  little  log 
houses  and  arrayed  himself  in  Captain  Phil  Dimple's  uniform. 
He  soon  found  the  little  boat  near  the  tree-top,  and  at  an  angle  of 
about  forty-five  degrees,  boldly  struck  for  the  opposite  bank. 
This  did  not  carry  him  to  the  lower  end  of  the  swamp,  but  he  soon 
found  it,  and  in  half  an  hour  was  at  the  enemy's  lines.  He  was 
not  sure  that  the  words  of  the  previous  night  were  still  in  use; 
but,  depending  mainly  on  his  uniform  and  his  strong  faith  in 
Col.  Cummins,  he  ventured  to  use  them. 

He  found  them  all  right,  and  was  at  once  conducted  to  head- 
quarters and  introduced  to  Col.  Arthur  Cummins  as  "Capt.  Leon 
Starr  of  the  U.  S.  A." 

Col.  Cummins  gave  the  Captain  a  searching  look  and  said  as 
if  dreaming: 

"I  declare  Captain,  you  greatly  resemble  a  very  dear  friend  of 
mine  whom  I  would  be  glad  to  meet." 

"C e, "  said  the  Captain  bowing. 

"C a,"  rejoined  the  Colonel,  and  instantly  they  were  in  each 

other's  arms.  The  cabalistic  words  so  often  used  by  them  in  their 
school  days  at  once  accomplished  much  of  the  serious  work  in 
hand.  It  was  a  novel  sight — two  professional  soldiers,  arrayed 
in  open  hostility,  stood  clasped  in  each  other's  arms.  Perhaps  the 
broad  annals  of  war  have  not  recorded  a  similar  scene. 

When  the  shock  natural  to  such  a  meeting  had  somewhat  sub- 
sided, Jim  Warren  made  a  full  confession  of  his  mission.  He 
concealed  nothing  of  importance  to  his  cause. 

277 


Col.  Cummins  listened  to  his  narrative  with  profound  atten- 
tion; and  after  considering  the  matter  to  the  fullest  extent  pos- 
sible, consented  to  do  all  he  could  to  restore  Nellie  Warren  to  her 
people. 

While  engaged  in  conversation  during  the  evening,  Capt.  Starr 
asked : 

"Dear  Colonel,  did  you  hear  anything  unusual  on  the  island 
last  night?"  "Only  once;  and  that  was  the  most  terrible  medley 
of  sounds  I  ever  heard.  The  whole  regiment  turned  out  to  listen, 
and  though  we  did  not  think  it  was  made  by  the  enemy,  I  sent  two 
daring  Irishmen  to  investigate  the  cause.  They  reported  that 
the  whole  'tear-up'  was  nothing  but  a  'darn  fool  nigger 
dancing  a  wild  rigadoon  around  a  great  big  tree  like  old  Nick 
was  after  him,  or  he  was  after  old  Nick — we  don't  know  which.' 
As  some  of  the  people  believe  that  a  negro  can  'hoo-doo,'  or  put 
spells  on  white  men,  they  concluded  their  report  by  saying,  'we 
watched  him  till  we  felt  a  spell  coming  on  us,  and  scurried 
away.'  " 

"That  was  the  negro  Joe  celebrating  the  redemption  of  his 
young  missus,  who  was  then  inside  the  tree,"  exclaimed  Capt. 
Starr  laughing  heartily. 

It  was  dark  when  Capt.  Starr  again  reached  his  little  boat, 
armed  with  "permission  to  cross  the  river  to  take  voluntary  pos- 
session of  a  lady  whom  he  had  formerly  wooed  and  won,"  and  or- 
dered that  "upon  his  return  with  the  lady  at  any  time  during 
the  following  morning,  both  are  to  receive  the  aid  and  protec- 
tion of  the  officer  detailed  to  receive  them." 

Elated  with  hope,  the  bold  Confederate  pulled  for  the  island, 
and  after  meeting  with  some  difficulty  while  crossing  the  main 
current,  reached  the  fallen  tree  safely. 

Miss  Warren  was  so  overcome  by  the  joyful  tidings  brought 
her  that  Loyd  King  insisted  on  helping  her,  and  without  even 
asking  permission  to  do  so,  took  the  astonished  girl  in  his  arms 
and  tenderly  carried  her  to  the  large  sycamore  where  it  was  pro- 
posed she  should  sleep  if  she  could,  through  the  remainder  of 

278 


the  ni^ht.  Loyd  afterwards  said  that  "Though  it  was  the  first 
barrel  of  sugar  he  ever  carried  in  his  arms,  he  hoped  it  would 
not  be  the  last  one." 

Though  silent  and  uneventful,  the  night's  vigil  was  one  of 
patient  love.  How  true  it  is  that  "The  fluttering  of  the  love- 
angel's  wing  will  make  the  most  dreary  spot  of  earth  a  seeming 
Paradise,  and  produce  emotions  which  hearts  can  feel,  but  tongue 
can  never  tell!" 

At  last  the  break  of  dawn,  "at  first  faint  gleaming  in  the  dap- 
pled east,"  gave  notice  that  the  time  for  leaving  was  at  hand. 
Miss  Warren  was  ready  and  led  by  the  steady  hand  of  Loyd 
King,  she  was  soon  a  passenger  with  Jim  Warren,  bound  for  the 
other  bank.  Tears  fell  thick  and  fast,  a  sad  farewell  was  said, 
and  the  little  boat  moved  away  into  the  semi-darkness. 

A  little  before  sunrise  the  anxious  voyagers  reached  the  desig- 
nated landing.  An  unknown  ofificer  and  two  other  soldiers  were 
there  to  meet  them,  and  being  conducted  to  headquarters  they 
found  a  magnificent  breakfast  awaiting  their  arrival. 

About  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  Capt.  Starr  and  his  lady  started  for 
Bridgeport,  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  since  the  affair  men- 
tioned at  the  beginning  of  this  narrative.  At  2  P.  M.  they  board- 
ed a  freight  train  which  carried  them  to  Huntsville,  sometime  in 
the  night. 

To  describe  the  abounding  joy  at  the  Warren  home  when  the 
lost  daughter  returned  is  beyond  the  utmost  reach  of  words. 
When  Nellie  whispered  to  her  father  that  Capt.  Starr  was  a 
full-blooded  rebel  in  disguise,  a  large  amount  of  gold  was  offered 
him  for  his  services.  Shaking  his  head  with  a  firmness  that 
could  not  be  misunderstood,  he  said : 

"No,  that  is  not  my  price.  I  may  be  able  to  tell  you  what  it  is 
in  the  morning." 

The  morning  came.  Doubtless  little  sleep  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
Warren  family  that  night.  A  return  train  was  scheduled  for 
Bridgeport  at  8  o'clock.  The  disguised  rebel  wanted  to  spend 
most  of  the  intervening  time  with  his  redeemed  Rebel  Girl.    She 

279 


offered  no  objections.  Within  half  an  hour  she  had  promised  to 
become  his  bride  when  the  "cruel  war  was  over."  He  hastened 
to  her  parents,  and  after  telling  them  in  substance  all  that  he  and 
Nellie  knew  of  each  other,  he  concluded  by  saying: 

"Notwithstanding  all  this;  our  relationship  is  not  close  enough 
to  prevent  me  from  redeeming  my  promise  of  last  night.  Nellie 
has  given  me  her  heart,  will  you  give  me  her  hand  if  I  live  through 
the  war,  which  I  grant  is  a  very  uncertain  thing?" 

"May  God,"  answered  the  father,  "bless  and  save  you  both. 
Then  come  and  be  our  son." 

Mr,  Warren  could  say  no  more,  and  when  the  bitter  farewell 
was  over,  the  strange  captain  passed  silently  through  the  gazing 
crowds  that  thronged  his  way. 

It  was  nearly  sunset  when  Capt.  Starr  again  stood  in  front  of 
Col.  Cummins'  tent  door.  Sleeping  little,  they  communed  to- 
gether until  morning  when  the  captain,  with  a  flag  of  truce, 
rowed,  for  the  last  time,  to  the  island  of  his  thrilling  adventures. 

Leaving  his  precious  craft  where  he  found  it,  he  hastened  to 
the  boat  among  the  vines  where  he  found  Loyd  King  and  Joe 
waiting  for  him.  They  at  once  reported  to  headquarters,  and 
from  thence  passed  on  still  deeper  into  the  great  conflict  between 
the  states. 

The  negro  Joe,  at  Nellie  Warren's  particular  request,  became 
the  willing  and  devoted  servant  of  both  Jim  Warren  and  Loyd 
King ;  and  in  deference  to  her  wishes,  Tom  Dimple  was  sent  away 
as  a  prisoner  of  war.  The  following  October  the  noble  Capt.  At- 
water  was  killed  at  Perryville,  Ky, 

The  strife  became  more  furious  as  time  passed  on,  and  when  at 
last  the  conflict  was  over,  and  the  South  was  just  entering  into  the 
throes  of  reconstruction.  Col.  James  Warren,  formerly  private 
Jim  Warren,  accompanied  by  his  sister,  Mary  Warren,  Capt. 
Loyd  King,  Gen.  Arthur  Cummins  of  Massachusetts,  and  Dr. 
Palmer,  late  of  New  Orleans,  appeared  before  Nellie  Warren  at 
her  elegant  home  in  western  Tennessee,  and  the  man  of  God  made 
them  one.    By  them  stood  Loyd  King  and  Mary  Warren.    The  two 

280 


pairs  exchanged  places  on  the  floor,  and  the  brave  little  Georgian 
and  the  beautiful  Mary,  were  made  one,  too. 

Joe  King  Warren,  as  the  negro  loved  to  call  himself  after  en- 
tering the  service  of  two  masters,  died  about  ten  years  ago.  A 
costly  monument,  erected  by  the  Warren  family  prominently 
marks  his  grave. 


2*<l 


SUPPLEMENT 

TO 

THE  EARLY  HISTORY 

OF 

JACKSON  COUNTY 


GIVING   THE   NAMES    OF    OFFICERS    SINCE    1796 
TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 

INFERIOR  COURT  JUDGES. 

OUR  COUNTY'S  PART  IN  THE  CIVIL  WAR. 

VETERANS  THAT  ENUSTED. 

DELEGATES  TO  THE  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTIONS 
OF  1861-65-67  AND  1877. 

ROLL  OF  CONFEDERATE  VETERANS  IN  THE  COUNTY. 

REPRESENTATIVES  AND  SENATORS  FROM  1799  TO  1914. 

AND  SOME  STRANGE  THINGS  CULLED  FROM  THE  RECORDS. 


W.  E.  WHITE 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  OFFICERS  OF  JACKSON  COUNTY. 

Until  the  year  1870,  the  Ordinary  had  charge  of  the  school 
funds  of  the  county. 

An  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  approved  October  13,  1870, 
called  for  the  election,  by  the  Board  of  Education,  of  one  of  its 
members  of  said  Board  to  be  County  School  Commissioner.  This 
Act  was  amended  on  the  19th  of  January,  1872,  in  several  par- 
ticulars, but  did  not  materially  change  the  duties  of  the  Com- 
missioner. 

The  Act  of  1911  changed  the  name  "Commissioner"  to  "Super- 
intendent of  Schools."  And  also  made  the  office  elective  by  the 
people  instead  of  by  the  Board. 

The  following  gentlemen  have  served  as  Commissioners  or 
Superintendents,  viz : 

1871  to  1900,  Gustavus  James  Nash  Wilson. 

1900  to  1912,  Richard  Dudley  Moore. 

1912  to  ,  Luther  Elrod. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
Education  from  1876  to  1914,  inclusive: 

Robert  White,  J.  G.  McLester,  J.  L.  Johnson,  William  Thur- 
mond, J.  L.  Williamson,  F.  M.  Bailey,  W.  H.  Bridges,  G.  W. 
Brown,  J.  A.  B.  Mahaffy,  William  Seymore,  C.  W.  Appleby,  J. 
C.  Grow,  W.  F.  Stark,  R.  S.  McGarity,  C.  B.  Irwin,  T.  H.  Niblack, 
H.  L.  Brock,  E.  M.  Thompson,  S.  W.  Jackson,  A.  L.  Venable,  W. 
T.  Howard,  W.  T.  Thurmond,  J.  T.  Chestnut,  L.  F.  Sell,  W.  B. 
Hardman,  H.  M.  Appleby,  H.  J.  Cox,  J.  N.  Holder,  T.  W.  Webb,  D. 
W.  Garrison,  J.  C.  Turner,  J.  F.  Shannon,  A.  A.  Camp,  B.  A.  Hill,  A. 
M.  Flanigan,  L.  M.  Arnold,  W.  R.  Smith,  W.  H.  Maley,  J.  N. 
Ross,  J.  A,  Crook,  R.  W.  Haynie,  and  L.  C.  Allen. 

Of  the  above  members  six  have  served  as  presidents  of  the 
Board,  viz:  Messrs.  Robert  White,  J.  G.  McLester,  J.  A.  B.  Ma- 
haffy, J.  N.  Holder,  W.  B.  Hardman  and  J.  C.  Turner. 

285 


The  present  Board  is  composed  of  the  following  gentlemen : 
J.  C.  Turner,  President;  W.  H.  Maley,  J.  A.  Crook,  R.  W.  Hay- 
nie  and  L.  C.  Allen. 

The  people  of  this  county  have  always  believed  in  education, 
and  to-day,  every  district  has  a  new  and  commodious  school  build- 
ing. Jefferson,  Pendergrass,  Commerce,  Statham,  Maysville  all 
have  good  brick  buildings  that  would  do  credit  to  much  larger 
cities,  while  Winder,  Talmo,  Hoschton,  Arcade,  Nicholson  and 
Center  have  buildings  of  wood. 

HARMONY   GROVE  FEMALE  ACADEMY,   1824. 

In  Dawson's  Compilation  of  the  Laws  of  the  State  of  Georgia, 
page  24,  No.  56,  is  found  this  Act : 

"An  Act  to  incorporate  the  Female  Academy  at  Harmony 
Grove  in  Jackson  County." 

*'Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  State  of  Georgia,  in  General  Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby 
enacted  by  the  authority  of  the  same,  That  Russell  Jones,  "William 
Putts  [Potts],  Samuel  Barnett,  Frederick  Stewart  and  John  Rhea 
be  Trustees  of  said  Academy,  etc."  This  was  the  first  school  for 
girls  that  was  established  in  the  State. 

COMMISSIONERS  ROADS  AND  REVENUES. 

"In  accordance  with  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly,  entitled 
an  Act  appointing  County  Commissioners  for  Jackson  County, 
Georgia,  approved  the  16th  day  of  Feb.,  1874." 

Their  first  meeting  was  held  on  March  the  7th,  1874. 

The  following  gentlemen  served  on  the  Board : 

1874,  Hartwell  Jackson,  Thomas  L.  Ross  and  L.  Gilleland. 

1875  and  1876,  William  Seymore,  W.  J.  Haynie  and  W.  G. 
Steed. 

1877.  J.  H.  Reinhardt,  F.  S.  Segars  and  S.  S.  Smith. 

T.  H.  Niblack  served  as  Clerk. 

This  board  was  dissolved  by  Act  of  the  Legislature  approved 
Feb.  24,  1877. 

286 


Again,  in  1901,  the  General  Assembly  of  Georgia  approved  an 
Act  creating  another  Board  of  Koads  and  Revenues.  This  Act 
was  amended  in  1903,  allowing  the  people  to  elect  the  members 
of  the  Board  instead  of  being  appointed  as  under  the  Act  of  1901. 
Members  of  the  Board  follows : 

1902-3,  W.  P.  DeLaperriere,  Chairman;  G.  E.  Deadwyler  and 
A.  R.  Braselton. 

1904,  F.  L.  Pendergrass,  Chairman ;  A.  R.  Braselton  and  W.  P. 
DeLaperriere. 

1905,  F.  L.  Pendergrass,  Chairman;  W.  B.  Matthews  and  C. 
M.  Porter. 

1906-7-8,  F.  L.  Pendergrass,  Chairman;  C.  M.  Porter  and  H.  C. 
Barnett. 

1909  to  1912,  A.  R.  Braselton,  Chairman ;  D.  R.  Marlow  and  T. 
T.  Stapler. 

1913,  A.  R.  Braselton,  Chairman;  W.  W.  Hancock  and  L.  D. 
Nickelson. 

By  an  Act  approved  in  1902,  the  ofifice  of  Superintendent  of 
Roads,  better  known  as  Civil  Engineer,  was  created. 

Mr.  T.  Jack  Bennett  served  in  this  capacity  until  1912. 

Mr.  George  D.  Appleby  is  the  present  Engineer. 

SHERIFFS. 

1796  to  1800,  John  Hart 

1801  to  1803,  Chas.  Dougherty 

1804  to  1805,  Robt.  Hyde 

1806  to  1807,  J.  M.  C.  Montgomery 

1808  to  1809,  Wm.  Potts 

1810  to  1812,  Robt.  Mitchell 

1813  to  1818,  Wm.  Potts 

1819  to  1820,  J.  Little 

1821  to  1821,  Wm.  Potts 

1822  to  1824,  Joseph  Hampton 
1825  to  1826,  J.  Little 

1827  to  1828.  Jos.  Hampton 
1829  to  1830,  John  Park 

287 


1831  to 
1833  to 
1835  to 
1837  to 

1839  to 

1840  to 
1842  to 
1844  to 
1846  to 
1848  to 
1850  to 
1852  to 
1854  to 
1856  to 
1858  to 
1860  to 
1862  to 
1864  to 
1866  to 
1868  to 

1871  to 

1872  to 
1874  to 
1879  to 
1891  to 
1897  to 
1899  to 

1906  to 

1907  to 
1913  to 


1832 
1834 
1836 
1838 
1839 
1841 
1843 
1845 
1847 
1849 
1851 
1853 
1855 
1857 
1859 
1861 
1863 
1865 
1867 
1870 
1872 
1873 
1878 
1890 
1896 
1898 
1906 
1906 
1912 


John  Randolph 

Barnabiis  Barron 

John  Randolph 

G.  F.  Adams 

James  "Wood,  Unexpired  Term 

N.  H.  Pendergrass 

Jas.  Wood 

Wm.  S.  Thompson 

Joshua  H.  Randolph 

Wm.  Thompson 

J.  H.  Randolph 

Wm.  Thompson 

J.  H.  Randolph 

John  S.  Hunter 

Alfred  Smith 

A,  M.  Reynolds 

D.  T.  J.  Chandler 

James  E.  Randolph 

Wm.  C.  Stevens 

J.  D.  Johnson 

Turner  Wilhite,  Died 

M,  N.  Duke,  Unexpired  Term 

John  S.  Hunter 

Thos.  A.  McElhannon 

Benj.  H.  Collier 

A.  R.  Braselton 

W.  T.  Stevens,  Died 

J.  J.  Pettyjohn,  Unexpired  Term 

B.  H.  Collier 
Samuel  C.  Potts 


CORONERS. 

1852  to  1857,  H.  Allen 
1858  to  1872,  W.  J.  Park 
1873  to  1876,  William  Wallace 

288 


1877  to  1878,  S.  Yearwood 
1879  to  1894,  W.  A.  Worsham 
1895  to  1898,  M.  P.  Wood 
1899  to  1906,  L.  J.  Johnson 
1907  to  1912,  J.  F.  Adams 
1913  to  ,  J.  A.  Wood 

ORDINARIES. 

By  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Georgia,  approved  in 
1851,  amended  in  1852  and  again  in  1853,  the  office  of  Ordinary 
was  created. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  gentlemen  that  have  served  this 
county : 

1853  to  1859,  John  G.  Pittman 
1860  to  1861,  A.  C.  Thompson 
1862  to  1867,  John  Simpkins 
1868  to  1872,  Thos.  L.  Ross 
1873  to  1876,  Wily  C.  Howard 
1877  to  1896,  Horatio  W.  Bell 
1897  to  1900,  L.  Y.  Bradbury 
1901  to  1908,  John  N.  Ross 
1909  to ,  James  A.  Wills 

DEPUTY  SHERIFFS. 

1883  to  1886,  S.  E.  Bailey 

1887  to  1890,  J.  W.  Cleghorn 

1891  to  1892,  John  A.  Suddeth 

1893  to  1894,  J.  F.  Coleman 

1895  to  1896,  Samuel  Coleman 

1897  to  1898,  R.  M.  Patrick 

1899  to  1900,  H.  M.  Appleby 

1907  to  1912,  Frank  Collier 

1913  to  ,  James  W.  Stockton 

289 


CLERKS  INFERIOR  COURT. 

1796  to  1797,  D.  W.  Easley 
1798  to  1800.  Jas.  Easley 
1801  to  1802,  W.  Pentecost 
1803  to  1816,  Edward  Adams 
1817  to  1818,  Edward  Harris 
1819  to  1822,  Joseph  Depriest 
1823  to  1832,  Edward  Adams 
1833  to  1837,  Sylvanus  Ripley 
1838  to  1839,  AVilliam  Cowan 
1840  to  1847,  J.  J.  MeCulloch 
1848  to  1865,  Pitsfield  F.  Hinton 
1866  to  1866,  H.  J.  Simmons 
This  court  was  abolished  in  1866. 


1851  to 
1853  to 
1855  to 
1862  to 
1864  to 
1866  to 
1868  to 
1871  to 
1875  to 
1879  to 
1881  to 
1883  to 
1891  to 
1893  to 
1895  to 
1899  to 
1905  to 
1913  to 


1852 
1854 
1860 
1863 
1865 
1867 
1870 
1874 
1878 
1880 
1882 
1890 
1892 
1894 
1898 
1904 
1912 


TAX  RECEIVERS. 

J.  B.  Lowry 
Thos.  Stapler 
John  Simpkins 
W.  A.  Worsham 
J.  M.  Venable 
E.  M.  Durham 
D.  R.  R.  Perkins 
J.  P.  Thompson 
Geo.  W.  Brown 
AV.  C.  Appleby 
J.  W.  N.  Lanier 
W.  P.  Boggs 
A.  G.  Lamar 
^y.  P.  Boggs 
R.  J.  Fleeman 
G.  M.  D.  Moon 
N.  B.  Lord 
Obie  Hawks 
290 


TREASURERS. 

1864  to  1867,  Joseph  Elslery 
1868  to  1872,  Jas.  Rogers 
1873  to  1876,  L.  J.  Johnson      • 

1907  to  1910,  Geo.  W.  Baily 
1911  to  ,  Geo.  E.  Smith 

SURVEYORS. 

1853  to  1854,  B.  F.  Park 
1855  to  1859,  Ephraim  Jackson 
1860  to  1861,  N.  B.  Cash 
1862  to  1865,  E.  Jackson 
1866  to  1870,  A.  J.  Weir 
1871  to  1880,  J.  L.  Johnson 
1881  to  1882,  N.  N.  Pendergrass 
1883  to  1884,  W.  T.  Bennett 
1885  to  1892,  A.  C.  Appleby 
1893  to  1894,  C.  0.  Pittman 
1895  to  1898,  J.  H.  Hardy 
1899  to  1904,  C.  0.  Pittman 
1905  to  1906,  C.  A.  Mize 
1907  to  1912,  C.  0.  Pittman 
1913  ,  No  one 

TAX  COLLECTORS. 

1840  to  1854,  E.  Hewit 
1855  to  1856,  A.  C.  Thompson 
1857  to  1858,  T.  L.  Brown,  Died 
1859,  H.  C.  Appleby 

1860  to  1861,  V.  Cronic 
1862  to  1863,  W.  A.  Worsham 
1864  to  1865,  C.  C.  Thompson 
1866  to  1870,  Wm.  Thurmond 

291 


1871  to  1872,  Chas.  Fleeman,  Died 

1873  to  1874,  C.  S.  Hill 

1875  to  1880,  Jas.  L.  Williamson 

1881  to  1882,  J.  M.  Sailors 

1883  to  1885,  T.  L.  Brown,  Died 

1885  to  1886,  H.  C.  Barnett,  Unexpired  Term 

1887  to  1890,  J.  D.  Williamson 

1891  to  1892,  J.  F.  Marlow 

1893  to  1894,  J.  R.  Roberts 

1895  to  1898,  W.  F.  Head 

1899  to  1906,  A.  H.  Brock 

1907  to  ,  W.  T.  Appleby 

CLERKS  SUPERIOR  COURT 

1796  to  1806,  George  Taylor 
1807  to  1831,  Edward  Adams 
1832  to  1837,  Sylvanus  Ripley 
1838  to  1839,  William  Cowan 
1840  to  1847,  J.  J.  MeCulloch 
1848  to  1865,  P.  F.  Hinton 
1866  to  1866,  H.  Atkins,  Appointed 
1866  to  1866,  H.  J.  Simmons,  Elected 
1866  to  1868,  J.  F.  Harrison,  Deputy 

1868  to  1869,  H.  Atkins 

1869  to  1870,  Jno.  Simpkins 
1871  to  1880,  T.  H.  Niblack 
1881  to  1884,  J.  L.  Williamson 
1885  to  1889,  W.  T.  Bennett,  Died 

1889  to  1890,  J.  C.  Bennett,  Unexpired  Term 

1891  to  1892,  T.  H.  Niblack 

1893  to  1896,  J.  C.  Bennett 

1897  to  1898,  C.  C.  Chandler 

1899  to  1906,  A.  C.  Appleby 

1907  to  1912,  S.  J.  Nix 

1913  to  ,  N.  B.  Lord 

292 


Most  of  the  above-named  clerks  served  as  treasurers,  also. 
Since  1864,  our  county  has  had  only  five  treasurers  apart  from  the 
Clerk's  office. 

Notice  the  list  of  Treasurers,  and  there  will  appear  a  gap  from 
1875  to  1907. 

Note:  The  custom  followed  by  the  officers  in  the  early  settlement  and 
even  up  to  the  Civil  War,  was  to  assume  the  duties  of  their  offices  at 
most  any  time  in  the  year  that  suited  their  convenience.  This  makes  it 
a  difficult  matter  to  place  the  exact  length  of  service,  and  we  have,  there- 
fore, given  each  his  one,  two  or  four  years  as  the  case  demands,  as  though 
he  began  on  the  first  of  the  year  as  is  the  custom  now. 

In  former  years  some  would  begin  the  terms  any  time  from  January  to 
May. 


JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE,  NOTARIES  PUBLIC,  AND  CON- 
STABLES IN  1914. 

Jefferson  District,  245— H.  C.  Doster,  J.  P.;  W.  W.  Dickson,  N. 

P.,  vi^ith  J.  J.  Pettyjohn  and  A.  J.  Watson,  Constables. 
Clarksboro,  242— E.  D.  Welchel,  J.  P. ;  C.  F.  Holliday,  N.  P.,  with 

J.  F.  Hale  and  R.  W.  Holliday,  Constables. 
Newtown,  253— J.  0.  Stapler,  J.  P.;  J.  W.  Ingram,  N.  P.,  with 

D.  J.  Nunn  and  C.  E.  Fleeman,  Constables. 

Center,  1704— S.  A.  Pittman,  J.  P.;  J.  P.  Johnson,  N.  P.,  with 

J.  H.  Farmer  and  J.  J.  Pace,  Constables. 
Harrisburg,  257— H.  T.  Jennings,  J.  P.;.  W.  P.  Boggs,  N.  P.,  with 

G.  R.  Griffeth  and  B.  C.  McRee,  Constables. 
Minish,  255— J.  W.  Sailors,  J.  P. ;  T.  A.  Little,  N.  P.,  with  S.  E. 

Baily  and  A.  Jep  Smith,  Constables. 
Wilson,  465— W.  N.  LeMaster,  J.  P.;  D.  A.  Crisler,  N.  P.,  with 

E.  B.  Seay  and  Jack  Hopkins,  Constables. 

Miller,  455— R.  R.  Wilson,  J.  P. ;  J.  A.  Crook,  N.  P.,  with  W.  M. 

Tolbert  and  S.  W.  Lord,  Constables. 
Talmo,  1691— J.  W.  Walker,  J.  P. ;  L.  R.  Pettyjohn,  N.  P.,  with 

J.  H.  A.  Simmons  and  D.  G.  Stover,  Constables, 
Cunningham,  428— E.  Duke,  J.  P.;  W.  B.  Patrick,  N.  P.,  with 

W.  W,  Brooks  and  J.  T.  Bailey,  Constables. 

293 


Randolph,  248— H.  M.  Duke,  J.  P.;  A.  J.  Morgan,  N.  P.,  with 
Charley  Bryant  and  J.  W.  Simmons,  Constables. 

Hosehton,  1407— J.  H.  C.  Randolph,  J.  P.;  AV.  M.  Smith,  N.  P., 
with  J.  L.  Stover  and  J.  M.  Deaton,  Constables. 

House,  243— A.  I.  Lyle,  J.  P. ;  R.  0.  Ross,  N.  P.,  with  W.  A.  Wat- 
son and  E.  Hewit,  Constables. 

Chandler,  246— J.  M.  Haynie,  J.  P. ;  Muller  MeElroy,  N.  P.,  with 
C.  E.  McDanold  and  G.  L.  Williamson,  Constables. 

Sante  Fe,  1042— L.  D.  Nickelson,  J.  P. ;  J.  J.  Bolton,  N.  P.,  with 
J.  I.  Wages  and  W.  N.  Haynie,  Constables, 

SOME  OF  THE  QUEER  THINGS  CULLED  FROM  THE 

RECORDS  OF  THE  INFERIOR  COURT  OF 

JACKSON  COUNTY. 

"State  of  Georgia     "I 
Jackson  County         j 

At  a  court  began  and  held  in  and  for  the  County  aforesaid  the 
first  day  of  August  1796.    Present 

Joseph  Humphries  \ 

Absalom  Ramsey  /  Esquires 

Roderick  Easley  > 

Montfort  Stokes  V  Judges 

James  Pitman  / 

On  motion  of  Theo  P.  Carnes,  Atty.  for  Wm.  Brown,  stating 
that  an  action  was  depending  in  the  Inferior  Court  of  Franklin 
County,  Wm.  Brown  vs.  John  Barnett  which  cause  was  ordered 
by  said  Court  to  be  removed  to  this  as  the  defendent  resided  in 
this  County 

Ordered,  that  the  Clerk  inter  the  same  on  the  docquet  and 
stand  for  trial  next  term 

Then  proceeded  to  nominate  Constables  when  David  Shay 
Samuel  Bridgewater  and  Johnson  Clark  was  appointed  and  quali- 
fied also  John  Kinnerly  who  is  to  be  qualified  hereafter 

294 


Ordered,  that  a  road  be  cut  from  this  place  the  nearest  &  best 
way  to  the  Cherokee  Corner,  and  that  Samuel  Knox  John  Heart 
&  Daniel  W.  Easley  be  commissioners  of  the  same 

And  that  a  road  be  cut  from  this  place  Meeting  a  road  from 
Franklin  Court  House,  Jas  East  Wm.  Carter  &  Obiant  Mooney 
Commissioners  of  the  same 

Signed  Jas  Humphries  Roderick  Easley  Absalom  Ramsey  Jas. 
Pittman  Wm.  Stokes 

The  Court  adjourned  until  court  in  course. 

D.  W.  Easley,  Clk. 

The  following  jurors  were  drawn  for  the  January  term  of 
court,  1797,  viz.- 

1  John  Bradshaw,  2  John  Parks,  3  Chesly  Morris,  4  Jas.  Scott, 
5  Jno.  Cunningham,  6  Isaac  Hill,  7  Wm.  Gentry,  8  Ben  Virmil- 
lion,  9  Jordan  Anderson,  10  Sam  Kilough,  11  Jno,  Miller,  12 
Walter  Bell,  13  Nathaniel  Midlock,  14  Jas.  Harper,  15  Wm.  Duke, 
16  Jas.  Armstrong,  17  Jno.  Party,  18  Jno.  Reynolds,  19  Asa 
Hamilton,  20  Henry  Ledbetter,  21  Wm.  Sparks,  22  Matt  Moon, 
23  Geo.  Kinerly,  24  Randolph  Traylor,  25  Jesse  Sparks,  26  Jno. 
Wilson,  27  Matt  Waters,  28  Mial  Barnett,  29  David  Luke,  30  Jacob 
Howen,  31  Geo.  McPharse,  32  Isaac  Middlebrooks,  33  Daniel 
Matthews,  34  Wm.  Cauthorn,  35  Henry  Trent,  36  Miles  Gathright, 
37  Sam  Knox,  38  Cain  Gentry,  39  Ales  Kilgoor,  40  David  Kil- 
ough, 41  John  Shield,  42  Leon  Best,  43  Thos.  Kinily,  44  Thos. 
Nelson,  45  Daniel  Williams,  46  William  Ramsey. 

The  first  case  tried  in  the  county  was  the  case  of  William 
Brown  against  John  Barnett,  and  was  decided  by  the  following 
jurors,  viz : 

1  Jno.  Bradshaw,  2  Jno.  Parks,  3  Chesly  Morris,  4  Jno.  Cun- 
ningham, 5  Isaac  Hill,  6  Ben  Vermillion,  7  Sam  Kilough,  8  Jno. 
Miller,  9  AValter  Bell,  10  Jas.  Harper,  11  (Name  does  not  appear 
on  record,)  12  Wm.  Duke. 

The  verdict  was:  "We  the  jurors  find  for  the  defendant  a  non 
suit,  with  cost  of  suit." 

Jas.  Harper,  F.  M. 

Case  appealed. 

295 


August  Term  1797. 
On  Thursday  3d  the  following  ''Orders"  were  passed: 
"Ordered  that  Tavern  license  &  License  for  to  keep  a  Ferry- 
across  the  Oconee  river  at  Fort  Mathews  be  granted  to  Mathew 

Stone 

"Ordered,  That,  Tavern  License  be  granted  to  Cain  Jentry 


"Ordered,  that  the  following  Rates  be  Lawful  for  any  Tavern 
keeper,  or  retailers  of  Spiritous  Liquors  to  sell  by  and  shall  not 
extort  a  larger  sum  for  any  single  article  than  what  is  here 
allowed 

for  Breakfast  of  good  holesome  diet $0.25 


first  table 
Second  table 


.371/2 

.25 

.25 

.10 

.25 


Dinner        ' '         do  Warm    .... 

Dinner        "         do  Cold    

Supper        "         do  

Lodging      "         

half  pint  of  Jamaica  or  Wisterior  Rum.  . 

half  pint  North  East  Rum 183^ 

half  pint  Brandy 18% 

half  pint  Whiskey    121/2 

horse  feed  4  cents  for  each  quart  of  Corn  or 
bundle  fother 

feeding  &  Stableing  a  horse  twenty  four  hours 
■with  a  plenty  of  Corn  and  fother 37i,'2 


Jackson  County's  first  Justices  of  the  peace  were  appointed  on 
the  4th  day  of  August,  1797,  as  follows : 
Capt.  Morrison's  district,  Joseph  East  and  Alexander  Morrison. 

"     Kilough's  "      John  Easley 

"     Kirkpatrick's     "     Joseph   McCutchen   and   Thomas   Kirk- 

patrick 

"     Strong's  "      Micajah   Benge. 

Constables  for  these  districts,  having  been  appointed  on  the 
day  previous,  were  Elijah  Gentry,  Ben  Parr,  James  Henderson 
and  Ben  Rodgers. 

296 


At  the  April  term  1797  this  order  was  passed,  viz : 

"Ordered  that  the  Clerk  advertise  the  building  of  the  [first] 
Jail  to  be  let  to  the  lowest  bidder  on  the  first  Saturday  in  May 
next  at  Clarksboro.  the  plan  of  said  house  is  as  follows,  twenty 
two  feet  square  on  the  out  side  two  stories  high  a  shingle  roof 
the  first  story  to  begin  two  feet  in  the  ground  built  with  a  double 
wail  of  timbers  at  least  ten  inches  square  &  filled  with  small  round 
poles  end  ways  so  as  to  make  the  walls  three  feet  thick  to  be 
eight  feet  clear  in  the  pitch  of  the  floor  to  begin  even  with  the 
surface  of  the  earth  laid  with  hewn  timbers  a  foot  thick  close 
together  then  with  two  Inch  oak  plank  nailed  down  with  spikes 
within  six  inches  of  each  other  and  second  floor  in  the  same  manner 
and  a  trap  door  in  the  middle  three  feet  square  well  Ironed  the 
second  story  to  be  ten  feet  pitch  in  the  clear  &  only  the  out  wall 
carried  up  the  upper  floor  of  squared  timbers  six  inches  thick  a 
door  to  the  upper  story  well  Ironed  &  4  eight  light  glass  windows, 
well  grated  the  lower  story  to  have  two  windows,  eight  inches 
square  grated  inside  and  out 

With  a  few  changes  in  the  plans,  the  jail  was  erected  in  the 
following  summer. 

At  the  June  Term  of  the  Inferior  Court  in  1800,  this  "Order" 
was  passed:  "Ordered,  that  Gabriel  Hubbard,  Jacob  Bankston, 
James  Stringer,  Robt.  McGowen,  Richard  Easley,  Wm.  Loyd  and 
Richard  Thurmond  be  commissioners  to  lay  out  a  road  leading 
from  the  High  Shoals  of  the  Appalatchee  to  Jackson  court  house 
so  as  to  cross  the  bridge  across  the  Middle  river  where  the  county 
may  appoint. 

"George  Wilson,  Absalom  Ramsey  and  Jas.  Pittman,  Judges." 

A  page  from  the  Inferior  Court  records.  An  exact  reproduc- 
tion. 

Thursday  the  7th  feb  1805 
Court  met  according  to  adjournment 
Present  their  honors 

r    James  Pittman  \ 
]     James  Hendrix  I    Esquires 
(    Eth'd  Wood      3 
297 


Ordered  that  the  following  rates  be  lawful  for  taverns  for  the 
present  year  viz 

Breakfast  of  good  holsom  Diet $0.18% 

Dinner       "  do  25 

Supper       "  do  183^ 

Lodging  night    06l^ 

Jamaica  or  West  Indian  or  holland  Gin i/^  pt .  . .     .18% 

Brandy  &  Whisky do  ...     .I2V2 

Horse  well  fed  with  Corn  and  fodder 121/^ 

Feeding  and  stabling  horse  well  with  corn  &  fodder  for 

twenty  four  hours   37^2 

For  one  night   25 


JUDGES  INFERIOR  COURT. 

1796-7-8,  Joseph  Humphries,  Absalom  Ramsey,  Roderick  Easley 
and  Mont  Stokes. 

1799,  Jas.    Pittman.   Buckner   Harris,    George   Wilson,   Absalom 

Ramsey  and  John  Hampton. 

1800,  B.  Harris,  Jas.  Pittman,  Micajah  Williamson,  and  George 

Wilson. 

1801,  B.  Harris,  George  Wilson,  M.  Benge,  Absalom  Ramsey,  Jas. 

Pittman  and  B.  Haynie. 

1802-3,  B.  Harris,  Jas.  Pittman.  Wm.  Foster.  Jas.  Hendrix  and 
David  Dickson. 

1804,  B.  Harris,  Jas.  Pittman,  Wm.  Foster,  Jas.  Hendrix,  D.  Dick- 
son and  E.  Wood. 

1805-6-7-8,  B.  Harris,  Jas.  Pittman  and  George  Cowan. 

1809,  B.  Harris,  Jas.  Pittman,  Jas.  Hendrix,  E.  Wood  and  David 

Witt. 

1810,  Peter  Boyle,  D.  Witt,  Jas.  Hendrix  and  Etheldred  Wood. 

1811,  Hugh  Montgomery,  P.  Poole,  D.  Witt,  Jas.  Hendrix  and  Jas. 

Pittman. 
1812-13-14,  D.  Witt,  Chas.  Venable,  Hosea  Camp,  Joseph  Davis 
and  Sam  Henderson. 

298 


1815,  Jos.  Davis,  Hosea  Camp,  Hezekiah  Gates,  D.  Witt,  G.  N. 

Lyle  and  D.  H.  McCleskey. 

1816,  Elisha  Winn,  Hugh  Montgomery  and  D.  Witt. 

1817,  D.  H.  McCleskey,  D.  Witt  and  Hugh  Montgomery. 

1818,  David    Boring,    D.    Witt,    Hugh    Montgomery    and    John 

Borders. 

1819,  William  D.  Martin,  D.  Boring,  D.  Witt,  Jno.  Borders,  Levi 

Lowry  and  Jos.  Hampton. 

1820,  Jos.  Hampton,  Levi  Lowry,  D.  Witt,  Thomas  Hyde  and 

Jas.  Lyddell. 

1821,  Thos.  Hyde,  Levi  Lowry,  Jos.  Hampton,  W.  D.  Martin  and 

Jas.  Lyddell. 

1822,  Thos.  Hyde,  J.  J.  Singleton,  D.  Witt,  G.  W.  Moore,  Samuel 

Barnett  and  Benj.  Freeman. 

1823,  Hugh  Montgomery,  W.  D.  Martin,  Sam  Barnett  and  Geo. 

Shaw. 

1824,  Geo.  Shaw,  Sam  Barnett,  Thos.  Hyde,  Hugh  Montgomery 

and  W.  D.  Martin. 

1825,  W.  D.  Martin,  Hugh  Montgomery,  Geo.  Shaw,  Sam  Barnett, 

Tandy  Key  and  D.  W^itt. 

1826,  W.  D.  Martin,  Tandy  Key,  Geo.  Shaw  and  Sam  Barnett. 

1827,  W.  D.  Martin,  David  Witt,  Tandy  Key  and  Geo.  Shaw. 

1828,  D.  Witt,  Sam  Barnett,  Tandy  Key  and  Sylvanus  Ripley. 

1829,  Robt.  Smithwick,  J.  W.  Glenn,  S.  Ripley,  Robt.  Venable, 

Jas.  Montgomery  and  Tandy  Key. 

1830,  J.  W.  Glenn,  S.  Ripley,  Robt.  Smithwick,  Robt.  Venable  and 

Arthur  Camp. 

1831,  S.  Ripley,  R.  Venable  and  R.  Smithwick. 

1832,  D.  Witt,  Jos.  Hampton  and  J.  W.  Glenn. 

1833,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  Richard  Pentecost,  Augustus  Brown  and  Ed- 

ward Adams. 

1834,  Joseph  L.  Anderson,  E.  Adams,  N.  C.  Jarrett  and  Robert 

Moon. 

1835,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  John  G.  Pittman,  Robt.  Moon,  and  Tillman 

Harrison. 

1836,  E.  L.  Newton,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  J.  G.  Pittman  and  D.  H.  Mc 

Clesky. 

299 


1837,  R.  Pentecost,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  J.  G.  Pittman,  Robt.  Moon,  J.  P. 

Hutchens  and  Tillman  Harrison. 

1838,  John  Mills,  N.  C.  Jarrett  and  David  M.  Burns. 

1839,  W.  J.  Hill,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  Tillman  Harrison  and  D.  M.  Burns. 
1840-41,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  Robt.  Moon  and  Tillman  Harrison. 
1842-43,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  Tillman  Harrison  and  Middleton  Witt. 

1844,  Charley  Price,  N.  C.  Jarrett  and  Tillman  Harrison. 

1845,  N.  C.  Jarrett,  E.  H.  Moomaugh  and  Chas.  Price. 
1846-47,  Charles  Witt  and  E.  H.  Moomaugh. 

1848,  Robt.  Espy,  E.  H.  Moomaugh  and  Chas.  Witt. 

1849-50,  Robt.  White,  Madison  Strickland,  Chas.  Witt  and  M. 

Witt. 
1851,  Chas.  Witt,  R.  J.  Park  and  M.  Witt. 
1852-53,  M.  Witt,  Madison  Stnckland  and  Chas.  Witt. 
1854-55,  A.  B.  Pittman,  D.  L.  Jarrett,  R.  J.   Park  and  J.   H. 

Vandiver. 
1856-57,  J.  H.  Vandiver,  A.  B.  Pittman,  D.  L.  Jarrett  and  W.  P. 

Miller. 

1858,  D.  L.  Jarrett,  A.  B.  Pittman  and  W.  P.  Miller. 

1859,  W.  P.  Miller,  A.  B.  Pittman  and  H.  C.  Giddens. 

1860,  H.  C.  Giddens,  A.  B.  Pittman,  W.  P.  Miller,  D.  L.  Jarrett 

and  J,  W.  Hardy. 

1861,  H.  C.  Giddens,  J.  W.  Hardy,  Henry  Hosch,  Jas.  Linsey  and 

W.  A.  Worsham. 

1862,  J.  W.  Hardy,  William  GrifiPeth  and  H.  C.  Giddens. 

1863,  A.  C.  Shockley,  Wm.  Griffeth,  J.  R.  Hancock  and  James  T. 

Straynge. 
1864,65,  Jas.  Lindsey,  A.  C.  Shockley,  J.  R.  Hancock,  Wm.  Griffeth 

and  J.  W.  Hardy. 
1866,  A.  T.  Bennett,  J.  R.  Hancock,  G.  E.  Deadwyler  and  Jasper 

N.  Wood.* 
This  court  took  the  place,  somewhat,  of  the  Court  of  Ordinary 
at  the  present  time,  if  the  duties  of  Commissioners  of  Roads  and 
Revenues  were  combined  with  his  work.    The  Inferior  Court  also 

*Judge  Jasper  N.  Wood  died  on  Jan.  20,  1914,  being  the  last  to  answer 
the  call  of  the  Great  Judge. 

300 


had  jurisdiction  over  civil  cases  up  to  $500  and  some  criminal 
matters. 

The  court  was  abolished  in  1866. 


COURT  OF  JACKSON  COUNTY. 

This  court  was  organized  in  June,  1866  with  Hon.  W.  L.  Marler, 
Judge,  and  Hon.  W.  I.  Pike,  Solicitor. 

The  court  had  its  monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual  and  annual 
sessions.  From  the  record,  it  would  seem  that  certain  cases  of  a 
particular  nature  was  tried  at  certain  of  these  different  "sit- 
tings." 

This  court  was  abolished  in  November  1867. 


ANOTHER  COURT  OF  JACKSON  COUNTY. 

This  court  was  organized  in  October  1875.  Hon.  M,  M.  Pittman 
was  the  Judge.  This  court,  unlike  the  court  of  *66  and  '67,  which 
used  the  sheriff,  had  its  own  recognized  bailiffs. 

The  court  was  abolished  in  1877. 


COURT  OF  JACKSON  COUNTY. 

And,  yet,  another  court  was  organized  in  the  '80 's  but  was  de- 
clared unconstitutional  and  therefore  it  was  abolished. 

These  courts  were  thought  to  be  too  expensive,  considering  the 
small  scope  of  their  powers.  Much  of  the  business  transacted  by 
them  could  be  carried  on  by  the  Justice  courts. 

But  later  the  people  felt  the  need  of  a  court  that  could  be  car- 
ried on  at  less  expense  than  the  Superior  Court  and  therefore 
the  City  Court  of  Jefferson  came  into  existence. 

It  has  jurisdiction  over  all  "misdemeanor"  cases  and  nearly  all 
civil  cases,  except  "land  cases,"  divorce  suits  and  some  others. 

301 


OFFICERS  OF  CITY  COURT  OF  JEFFERSON. 
This  court  was  organized  in  September  1892. 
Judges, 
1892  to  1911,  W.  W.  Stark 
1911  to  ,  G.  A.  Johns 

Solicitors. 
1892  to  1897,  R.  B.  Russell,  of  the  Superior  Court 
1897  to  1900,  C.  H.  Brand,  of  the  Superior  Court 
1900  to  1907,  R.  L.  J.  Smith 
1907  to  1911,  W.  H.  Quarterman 
1911  to  ,  Pemberton  Cooley 

Clerks. 

1892  to  1911,  James  L.  Williamson,  Died 
1911  to  ,  E.  L.  Williamson 


BOARD  TAX  ASSESSORS. 

"An  Act  to  regulate  the  return  and  assessment  of  property  for 
taxation  in  this  State." 

Section  2,  "Be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid, 
That  there  shall  be  and  is  hereby  established  in  each  of  the 
several  counties  of  the  State  a  Board  of  Tax  Assessors.  Said 
County  Board  shall  consist  of  three  members  to  be  appointed  by 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  or  a  majority  thereof  or  by 
the  ordinary  in  which  have  no  Board  of  County  Commissioners, 
etc."    Approved  August  14,  1913. 

The  first  Board  of  Tax  Assessors  appointed  under  the  above 
Act  were :  Judge  John  N.  Ross,  Hon.  R.  D.  Moore  and  Hon.  John 
B.  Hardman. 

Their  terms  of  office  began  January  1st,  1914. 


Game  Warden,  1914,  John  R.  Duke. 

302 


JACKSON  COUNTY'S  PART  IN  THE  CR^IL  AYAR. 

As  soon  as  the  returns  of  the  election,  on  November  the  7th, 
1860,  was  known  and  every  one  was  satisfied  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  would  be  the  next  President  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  the  South  "sat  up  and  took  notice." 

The  people  seemed  to  think  that  the  time  had  come  for  a 
separation  from  the  Union.  And  accordingly  a  convention  was 
called  to  decide  whether  Georgia  would  leave  the  Union  or 
remain  as  she  was. 

The  Convention  met  in  Milledgeville,  the  Capital  then,  and  on 
Jan.  19th,  1861,  passed  the  following  "Ordinance:"  "We  the 
people  of  the  State  of  Georgia,  in  convention  assembled,  do  de- 
clare and  ordain,  and  it  is  hereby  declared  and  ordained,  That  the 
ordinance  adopted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Georgia  in  con- 
vention, on  the  second  day  of  January  1788,  whereby  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  of  America  was  assented  to,  rati- 
fied and  adopted ;  and  also  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  this  State  ratifying  and  adopting  amendments 
of  the  said  constitution,  are  hereby  repealed,  rescinded  and 
abrogated. 

"We  do  further  declare  and  ordain,  That  the  Union  now  sub- 
sisting between  the  State  of  Georgia  and  other  states,  under  the 
name  of  the  'United  States  of  America,'  is  hereby  dissolved,  and 
that  the  State  of  Georgia  is  in  the  full  possession  and  the  exercise 
of  all  those  rights  of  sovereignty  which  belong  and  appertain  to  a 
free  and  independent  state." 

Our  delegates,  Hons.  J.  J.  McCulloch,  J.  G.  Pittman  and  D.  R. 
Lyle,  voted  for  the  above  ordinance,  thus  placing  Jackson  County 
on  the  list  as  in  favor  of  Secession.  We  notice  our  sister  county's 
(Banks)  delegates  voted  one  for  and  one  against  the  ordinance. 
Hon.  S.  W.  Pruit  favored  the  withdrawal  but  Hon.  W.  R.  Bell 
opposed  it.  Hall  County's  three  delegates,  Hons.  E.  M.  Johnson, 
P.  M.  Byrd  and  Davis-  Whelchel,  voted  solidly  against  the 
measure.  Gwinnett 's  delegates,  Hons.  R.  D.  Winn,  J.  P.  Simmons 
and  T.  P.  Hudson  did  likewise,  while  Hons.  T.  R.  R.  Cobb,  Asbury 
Hull  and  Jefferson  Jennings  of  Clarke,  favored  the  ordinance. 

303 


Hons.  J.  S.  Gholston  and  A.  C,  Daniel  of  Madison  County,  did 
the  same.  Walton  County  sent  Hons.  George  Spence  and  H.  D. 
McDaniel  who  voted  in  favor  of  the  measure,  but  Hon.  Willis 
Kilgore  was  against  the  ordinance. 


CONFEDERATE  VETERANS  WHO  ENLISTED  FROM 

JACKSON. 

While  many  of  our  best  citizens  thought  it  best  not  to  "fight" 
the  stars  and  stripes,  doing  all  in  their  power  to  avert  a  collision 
with  the  powers  at  Washington,  they  soon  saw  that  there  was 
no  remedy  save  that  of  the  bayonet.  When  the  call  came,  the 
manhood  of  this  county  offered  itself  a  living  sacrifice,  for  what 
they  thought  was  right. 

The  "conscript"  officer  had  little  or  no  work  to  do  in  our 
midst.  Every  one  was  ready  to  volunteer  for  service,  in  defense 
of  the  southland. 

No  section  of  the  state,  or  better  say  of  the  world,  if  you  please, 
had  a  more  noble  and  courageous  band  of  men  than  those  who 
enlisted  from  Jackson  County. 

To  secure  this  list  of  1,350  names,  we  have  searched  the  records 
of  our  court-house,  the  Roster  Commission  office  in  Atlanta,  the 
records  in  Washington  City  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  have 
conferred  with  quite  a  number  of  the  old  veterans,  who  have  been 
exceedingly  kind  and  helpful  in  this  work. 

The  companies  have  been  placed,  each  to  itself,  where  enough 
names  could  be  found  to  make  a  creditable  showing.  In  several 
of  the  last  companies  that  went  out  and  where  the  enlistment  took 
place  outside  the  county,  the  "muster  rolls"  could  not  be  found, 
therefore,  it  was  thought  best  to  group  them  together  as  has 
been  done. 


304 


Mintz  or  Story's  Company. 


Company  G, 

Adair,  A.  H. 
Addington,  J.  L. 
Addington,  J.  F. 
Anthony,  D.  M. 
Anthony,  T.  G. 
Barrett,  Ebenezer 
Barnett,  J.  B.  D. 
Barr,  W.  J. 
Baugh,  Barney 
Baugh,  W.  F. 
Bennett,  J.  M. 
Benton,  S.  G. 
Bradberry,  M.  F. 
Brown,   G.  W. 
Bryant,  J.  J. 
Butler,  E.  M. 
Butler,  H.  J. 
Butler,  J.  R. 
Butler,  M.  R. 
Butler,  M.  L. 
Butler,  W.  L. 
Butler,  W.  P. 
Carr,  Thos.  J. 
Carr,  B.  M. 
Carr,  B.  F. 
Cantrell,  N.  W. 
Carlisle,  P.  H. 
Carson,  B.  F. 
Carson,  R.  H. 
Carson,  T.  L. 
Carter,  T.  H. 
Carter,  Jesse 
Carter,  Joseph 
Carter,  Jas. 


43rd  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Cash,  John 
Catlett,  B.  L. 
Catlett,  E.  P. 
Clark,  C.  M. 
Coker,  A.  F. 
Coker,  J.  W. 
Coker,  W.  R. 
Coker,  Wily  R. 
Collins,  Josiah 
Cox,  R.  F. 
Culpepper,  A.  M. 
Culpepper,  C.  C. 
Culpepper,  W.  H. 
David.  J.  M. 
Davis,  H.  L. 
Dunston,  G.  W. 
Dunston,  Russ 
Espey,  C.  J. 
Espey,  Calvin 
Ellison,  W.  A. 
Freeman,  J.  H. 

Garrison,  P.  D. 

Gilbert,  T.  S. 

Greenway,  G.  A. 

Greenway,  Govan 

Greenway,  T.  G. 

Gober,  T.  H. 

Gunter,  T.  W. 

Gunter,  W.  C. 

Garner,  W.  S. 

Henderson,  T.  J. 

Henderson,  A.  J. 

Henderson,  H.  B. 

Henderson,  H.  J. 

305 


Hailes,  W.  C. 
Hancock,  W.  Mc. 
Hard,  R.  J. 
Hardy,  R.  J. 
Hartley,  J.  W. 
Hartley,  John  W. 
Herndon,  A.  J. 
Herndon,  Hiram 
Herndon,  M.  J. 
Hill,  C.  P. 
Hill,  G.  L. 
Holliway,  John 
Hudson,  T.  P. 
Ivy,  Wm.  B. 
Jarrett,  W.  N. 
Jarrett,  N.  W. 
Kidd,  H.  F. 
Lackey,  J.  M. 

Lay,  E.  J. 
Lipscomb,  R.  G. 

Loggins,  S.  T. 

Mintz,  M.  M. 

Minish,  P.  H. 

Minish,  F.  H. 

Minish,  J.  W. 

Martin,  G.  L. 

IMarlow,  J.  F. 

Mario w,  Sam 

IMarlow,  R.  B. 

Marlow,  "Wilson 

Matkeif,  Oliver 

Madkiff,  J.  0. 

Nunn,  T.  A. 

Newman,  W.  P. 

Patrick,  Miles 

Patrick,  Joe 

Parks,  J.  M. 


Pettyjohn,  W.  J. 
Ragsdale,  W.  S. 
Ricks,  John 
Roberts,  S.  J. 
Roberson,  Wm. 
Randolph,  H.  J. 
Story,  J.  M. 
Sanders,  Jerry 
Sanders,  M. 
Stark,  W.  F. 
Scott,  J.  W. 
Shankle,  T.  S. 
Skates,  J.  A. 
Sisson,  J.  J. 
Smith,  Bird 
Smith,  J.  H. 
Smith,  J.  M. 
Smith,  Joe  M. 
Smith,  M.  F. 
Stapler,  J.  W. 
Stapler,  J.  M. 
Thornton,  J.  J. 
Thornton,  J.  D. 
Thompson,  Joe 
Thompson,  A,  F. 
Thompson,  W.  R. 
Wadkins,  J.  C. 
Wadkins,  W.  C. 
Webb,  C.  R. 
White,  A.  J. 
Wallace,  B.  D. 
Wallace,  Wesley 
Word,  A.  H. 
Webb,  H.  P. 
Webb,  J.  C. 
Webb.  T.  A. 
White,  C.  C. 


306 


White,  G.  W. 
White,  H.  S. 
White,  J.  T. 
White,  R.  F. 
White,  W.  J. 
White,  Robt. 
Whitmire,  J.  H. 
Whitmire,  W.  A. 
Wilbanks,  S.  D. 
Wilson,  J.  M. 


Wilson,  Moren 
Wilson,  Sauford 
Wilson,  Thomas 
Wilson,  Upson 
Wood,  Asberry 
Wood,  M.  P. 
Yarbrough,  E.  P. 
Yarbrough,  Joel 
Yarbrough,  Joseph 
Yarbrough,  Wiley 


Reynold's  Company. 


Company  B.,  16th  Georgia  Volunteer  Infantry. 


Allison,  Mark 
Allison,  Henry 
Arthur,  John 
Arthur,  Jos. 
Archer,  Bill 
Archer,  Bob 
Adams,  Thomas 
Adams,  Lude 
Bone,  Jos. 
Bowls,  Dutch 
Burson,  Green 
Bates,  Wm.  N. 
Baird,  Jas. 
Boyd,  Wm. 
Bradley,  Marion 
Bradley,  Jas. 
Bradley,  Thos. 
Bean,  William 
Betts,  Parks 
Betts,  Redmond 
Butler,  Tip 
Butler,  Nathan 


Cox,  H.  J. 
Cone,  Seaborn 
Cronic,  Warren 
Cosby,  Jas. 
Cosby,  Wm. 
Clark,  Moses  J. 
Copeland,  Eli 
Cook,  Samuel 
Cook,  Wm. 
David,  Thomas 
David,  H.  J. 
Delay,  George 
Dalton,  John 
Dalton,  Wm. 
Deveral,  John 
Dunson,  L,  D. 
Davis,  Charles 
Doster,  AY.  E. 
Edwards,  M.  E. 
Eads,  Aaron 
Elsberry,  Benj. 
Ferguson,  John 


307 


Ferguson,  Jas. 
Flannigan,  Wm. 
Flannigan,  Tip 
Garner,  Eli 
Guthrie,  Horace 
Harvil,  T.  K. 
Harvil,  Sanford 
Harvil,  George 
Hosch,  Henry 
Hardigree,  D.  I. 
Hardigree,  G.  F. 
Hayes,  John 
Hoopaugh,  Allen 
House,  J.  H. 
House,  Henry 
House,  Jackson 
Hill,  W.  E. 
Hughey,  D.  A. 
Justice,  Allen 
Johnson,  Joel 
Jackson,  W.  W, 
Jackson,  Stonewall 
Kureus,  "Watt 
Kidd,  Thomas 
King,  Pid 
Kirbo,  Dock 
Linn,  Jack 
Lyle,  A.  J. 
Lyle,  Cisero 
Lyle,  Leslie 
Moon,  Alfred 
McDanold,  Geo. 
McDanold,  Richard 
McDanold.  Jack 
Moon,  Robert 
Milton,  James 
McDaniel,  Daniel 


Morris,  William 
Morris,  H.  C. 
Morris,  Walton 
Morris,  Thomas 
Morris,  Dilmus 
Mitchell,  Raymond 
Manus,  George 
McElhannon,  Wm. 
Murphy,  Terrell 
Murphy,  Elijah 
McMillan,  Wm. 
North,  J.  R. 
Park,  A. 
Poole,  James 
Pentecost,  Poke 
Pentecost,  Daniel 
Reynolds,  A.  M. 
Reynolds,  J.  M. 
Reynolds,  John 
Randolph,  R.  J. 
Roberts,  John 
Robertson,  Wm. 
Slaton,  W.  H. 
Slaton,  Wm. 
Sikes,  David 
Smith,  Job 
Smith,  Sanford 
Smith,  Joseph 
Seymore,  William 
Strange,  John 
Stevens,  Nelson 
Stevens,  John 

Stevens, 

Spence,  Jas. 
Spence,  William 
Sprewell,  J.  W. 
Stewart,  Wash 


308 


Statham,  John 
Tate,   William 
Thompson,   Wm. 
Venable,  J.  M. 
Vandiford,  Richard 
Wright,  W.  J. 
Wallis,  J.  J. 
Wallis,   Madison 


Wood,  James 
Wood,  John 
Wills,  Abner 
White,  Robert 
Watts,   Morgan 
Wheeler,  Thomas 
Williams,   Jasper 
Wall,  Arthur 


Howard's   Company. 


Company  H., 

Anglin,  H.  H. 
Anthony,   M.  A. 
Benton,  A.  N. 
Berry,   T.  A. 
Benton,  J.  G. 
Benton,   J.   R. 
Benton,  S.  G. 
Barr,  Canada 
Blackburn,  P.  D. 
Bolden,  W.  B. 
Bolden,  L.  J. 
Bolton,   W.   J. 
Booth,  W.  M. 
Boyce,  G.  W. 
Boyce,  Joseph 
Bradberry,   Jacob 
Bray,  W.  H. 
Brown,  W.  A. 
Chaplain,  E,  H. 
Carithers,  Richard 
Coffer,  A.  R. 
Chambers,  John 
Clotfelter,  D.  A. 
Coleman,   L.   L. 


43rd  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Cook,  C.  N. 
Cook,   G.  N. 
Cook,  J.  W. 
Cook,   Newton 
Cunningham,  J.  S. 
Dameron,  C.  W. 
Dameron,   Loyd 
Dameron,  L.  C. 
Davenport,  J.  S, 
Davidson,  W.  P. 
Davis,  G.  W. 
Day,  J.  E. 
Delay,  J.  M. 
Delay,  R.  V. 
Durran,   Sylvanus 
Densmore,   Adam 
Doster,  Henry 
Doster,  E.  W. 
Dovale,   Corille 
Duke,  G.  R. 
Duke,  G.  S. 
Finch,  Hiram 
Fowler,  Kelley 
Fowler,  R.   C. 

309 


Giddens,   John 
Garrett,  A.  F. 
Giles,   Dock 
Gohlston,  W.  D. 
Howard,  H,  R. 
Howard,  H.  H. 
Horton,  J.  M. 
Heard,  J.  A. 
Hardy,  J.   W. 
Hammond,   Benj. 
Hammond,  J.  A. 
Hardy,  Samuel 
Harris,  Lewis 
Highfill,  B.  F. 
Hill,  George 
Hill,  Jesse 
Highfiell,  T.  N. 
Hood,  T.  J. 
Hooppan,  A.  F. 
Hoopaugh,  F.  M. 
Irwin,   Andrew 
Irwin,  E.  D. 
Irwin,   W.   H. 
Jordan,  C.  T. 
Jordan,  William 
Kenney,  David 
Lavender,  W,  G. 
Lavender,  R.  R. 
Lessieur,   J.   A. 
McCann,  R.  C. 
McDaniel,  W.  C. 
McEver,  W.  T. 
McKeon,  C.  W. 
McKeon,  J.  E. 
Matthews,  J.  C. 
Matthews,  W.  J. 
Matthews,  W.  F. 


Maddox,  C.  C. 
Marler,  D.  M. 
Marler,  J.  E. 
Martin,  M.  H. 
Maxey,  David 
Mays,  W.  J. 
Maddox,  R.  C. 
Mobley,  E.  D. 
Mobley,  J.  D. 
Moon,  W.  E. 
Morris,   J.   M. 
Morris,  Leroy 
Murray,  J.  M. 
Nabors,  J.  C. 
Nixon,  G.  M. 
Nixon,  T.  C. 
Owen,  J.  C. 
Phillips,  Abner 
Phillips,  E.  H. 
Phillips,  W.  W. 
Pollard,  George 
Ranson,   C. 
Reynolds,  Aplin 
Reynolds,  F.  M. 
Sells,  James 
Smith,  J.  M. 
Sorrow,  J.  C. 
Sorrow,   Nicholas 
Sorrow,    W.    T. 
Streetman,  W.  T. 
Stewart,  C.  B. 
Stewart,  W.  A. 
Statham,  W.  R.  H. 
Stanley,  G.  W. 
Trout,  G.  P. 
Trout,  W.  C. 
Tenable.  J.  A. 


310 


Wadkins,  John 
Walls,  J.  W. 
Walls,  W.  J. 
Ward,  J.  C. 
Waters,  Hiram 
Watsou,  J.  S. 


Watson,  J.  T. 
Watson,  Josiah 
Williams,  M.  M. 
Williamson,  G.  W. 
Wood,  K.  D. 


Bennett's  Company. 


.  Company  E.,  34th 

Adair,  J,  0. 
Anthony,   S.  AV. 
Anderson,  R.   B. 
Adams,  Jesse 
Adams,  J.  F, 
Bennett,  A.  T. 
Brock,  W.  T.  M. 
Bolton,  E.  F. 
Bray,  D.  A. 
Bailey,  S.  T. 
Brock,  S.  M.  D. 
Brooks,  J.  A. 
Carithers,  W.  J. 
Chandler,  R.  N. 
Chandler,  Reuben 
Chandler,  W.  H. 
Crisler,  D.  A. 
Colquitt,  W.  J. 
Cruse,  Berry 
Culbertson,    Pink 
Deadwyler,  G.  E. 
Dunnahoo,  J.  B. 
Dunson,  J.  M. 
Dunson,  Walker 
Evans,  J.  F. 
Esco,  J.  M. 


Georgia  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Esco,  John 
Esco,  W.  T. 
Garrison,  J.  W. 
Garrison,  B.  S, 
Garrison,  C.  P. 
Garrison,  Caleb 
Gunnin,  J.  J, 
Glenn,  J.  G. 
Hood,  Z.  W. 
Harmon,  J.  M. 
Harris,  T.  W. 
Harris,  A,  J. 
Harris,  S.  A. 
Hardy,  R.  M. 
Hardy,  F.  M. 
Henry,  F.  P. 
Henry,  George 
HoUiday,  D.  H. 
Hawks,  W.  T. 
HighfiU,  J.  J. 
Ivy,  J.  A. 
Ingram,  E.  H. 
Johnson,  J.  D. 
King,  Perry 
Lampkin,  Edward 
Leechman,  Carlos 
311 


Lord,  M.  G. 
Murphy,  C.  T. 
Mitchell,  W.  S. 
Maddox,  C.  T. 
Marlow,  R.  A. 
Marlow,  F.  W. 
Moore,  W.  T. 
McCarty,  Jesse 
McCarty,  John 
Mann,  W.  S. 
Merk,  F.  A. 
Nunn,  J.  E. 
Nunn,  A.  L. 
Nix,  J.  M. 
Nix,  D.  M. 
Pittman,  J.  G.  H. 
Pittman,  M.  M. 
Patrick,  T.  W. 
Patrick,  W.  H. 
Pinson,  W.  A, 
Pharr,  W.  A. 
Pharr,  James 
Ramppy,  P.  B. 
Roberts,  P.  J. 
Roberts,  D.  H. 
Randolph,  J.  C. 
Rogers,  J.  T. 
Reed,  Z.  M. 
Riden,  Josephus 
Strickland,   John 
Strickland,  J.  G. 


Strickland,  E.  W. 
Strickland,  Carlos 
Sailors,  J.  M. 
Sailors,  Isham 
Sailors,  Andy 
Sailors,  W.  F. 
Sanders,  M.  M. 
Stapler,  A,  J. 
Stapler,  J.  L. 
Streetman,  J.  T. 
Smith,  Isham 
Smith,  David 
Tiller,  Sandford 
Thurmond,   Cisero 
Thurmond,  Bolton 
Voiles,  Ira 
Voiles,  Frank 
Voiles,  Levi 
Wilson,   G.   J.   N. 
Wilson,  M.  M.  C. 
Wilson,  G.  C. 
Wilson,  J.  E. 
Wood,  W.  R. 
Williams,  J.  F. 
Williams,  J.  G. 
Wills,  J.  M.  V. 
Yeargan,  D.  G. 
Yeargan,  W.  S. 
Yeargan,  J.  C. 
Yeargan,  S.  B. 


Jarrett's  Company. 
Company  C,  18th  Georgia  Volunteer  Infantry. 
Appleby,  J.  T.  Addington,  J.  M. 


312 


Adams,  J.  T. 
Anglin,  Willis 
Anglin,  Knock 
Anglin,  W.  W. 
Adair,  W.  A. 
Allen,  J.  B. 
Bowls,  T.  C. 
Bacon,  A.  E. 
Bacon,  Ed. 
Barnett,  H.  C. 
Barron,  W.  L. 
Bell,  H.  W. 
Bell,  A.  J. 
Bennett,  Euel 
Bennett,  Tom 
Cohen,  M.  A. 
Callahan,  J.  H. 
Callahan,  W.  C. 
Cheek,  L.  M. 
Clanton,  Wm. 
Daley,  James 
DeLaperriere,  A.  A. 
Davis,  Ephraim 
Davis,  W.  C. 
Davis,  Pierce 
Davis,  John 
Espey,  J.  F. 
Espey,  J.  A. 
Estes,  0.  N. 
Erwin,  Elijah 
Eustice,  E.  M. 
Franklin,  M.  V. 
Franklin,  R.  B. 
Freeman,  S.  A. 
Goodin,  Augustus 


Gilbert,  H.  C. 
Harris,  Gains 
Harris,  Jesse 
Harris,  Geo. 
Harris,  Tom 
Helton,  E. 
Helton,  W. 
Helton,  R.  H. 
Hood,  W.  W. 
Howard,  John 
Head,  W.  0. 
Holmes,  J.  H, 
Harrison,  T.  L. 
Harrison,  W. 
Harvill,  A. 
Hutchins,  L.  J. 
Hunter,  Wm. 
Harden,  William 

Hardy,  A.  J. 

Irwin,  Elijah 

Jarrett,  D.  L. 

Jarrett,  N.  M. 

Kinney,  J.  A. 

Lord,  J.  W. 

Lord,  Phillip 

Lord,  John 

Lindsey,  Jas. 

Ledbetter,  W.  H.  H. 

Ledford,  Jesse 

Ledford,  Adison 

Lampkin,  Thos. 

Miller,  J.  P. 

Miller,  J.  H. 

Morgan,   George 

Morgan,  D.  M. 


313 


Morgan,  J.  P. 
Morgan,  B.  B. 
Moore,  Tom 
Moore,  J.  L. 
McElhannon,  J.  C. 
McElhannon,  H.  W. 
McLester,  Whitson 
Mitchell,  J.  R. 
Mathews,  C.  W. 
Millican,  R.  J. 
Michael,  Benj. 
McCulloch,  L.  A. 
Niblack,  T.  H. 
North,  J.  R. 
Oliver,  J.  H. 
Oliver,  Andrew 
Orr,  J.  M. 
Pharr,  Samuel 
Potter,  R.  P. 
Potter,   William 
Palmer,  J.  A. 
Pettyjohn,  T.  J. 
Potts,  John 
Potts,  Wayne 
Patman,  Tom 
Park,  Wm.  A, 
Randolph,  H.  J. 
Rouse,  E. 
Rogers,  Tom 
Rogers,  Jas. 
Rose,  H.  F. 
Rose,  B.  0.  W. 
Shockley,  W.  S. 
Silman,  J.  B. 


Strickland,  Jesse 
Strickland,  N.  C. 
Strickland,   Ansel 
Shirley,  Richard 
Sanders,  J.  E, 
Stapler,  A.  D. 
Simmons,  H.  J. 
Spencer,  H. 
Story,  J.  M. 
Thurmond,  J.  H. 
Thurmond,  E. 
Thurmond,  James 
Thurmond,  W.  T. 
Thurmond,  A.   M. 
Tolbert,  A.  J. 
Vandiver,  Q.  C. 
Winters,  James 
Wills,  Martin 
Worsham,  W.  W. 
Worsham,  J.  L. 
Wilhite,  J.  M. 
Wilhite,  0.  M. 
Wilhite,  W.  T. 
Williamson,  J.  H. 
Williamson,  R.  H. 
Williamson,  C.  C. 
Williamson,  Jno.  N. 
Waters,  W.  A. 
Wingfield,  J.   E. 
Wingfield,  John 
Wier,  John  G. 
Wilson,  W.  0. 
Wilson,  Fennel 
Wilson,  Henry. 


314 


Marler's  Company. 


Company  E.,  16th 

Anglin,  J.  N. 
Anglin,  David 
Addington,  John 
Ash,  Lemon 
Arnold,  S.  G. 
Arnold,  Geo. 
Arnold,  James 
Barrett,  Wm. 
Bowman,  G.  S. 
Brown,  N.  S. 
Brown,  Mieajah 
Bowles,  Cicero 
Booth,  Thomas 
Carson,  G.  L. 
Carson,  N.  D. 
Carson,  J.  C. 
Camsby,  G.  D. 
Cook,  Wesley 

Cook,  J.  J. 

Casper,  Thomas 

Collins,  E.  P. 

Catlett,  Wash 

Carter,  Wash 

Cheely,  Mark 

Cheely,  Wm. 

Coleman,  Thomas 

Cox,  Martin 

Chandler,  Parks 

Daniel,  Cicero 

Daniel,  M.  A. 

Daniel,  W.  A. 

Duncan,  J.  C. 

Dobbs,  Oliver 

Elrod,  Harrison 


Georgia  Volunteer  Cavalry. 

Fulcher,  James 
Fulcher,  Jesse 
Fleeman,  Thomas 
Fleeman,  Cass 
Fleeman,  Mell 
Finch,  Ren 
Finch,  Benj. 
Finch,  John 
Finch,  Joseph 
Fowler,  L.  C. 
Guffin,  Wm. 
Gilleland,  Hugh 
House,  William 
House,  Mack 
House,  James 
Holliday,  Geo. 
Holliday,  Walter 
Holliday,  Frank 
Holliday,  Joseph  C. 
Hewitt,  Polk 
Hill,  Alex. 
Hill,  Cicero 
Hill,  David 
Hill   Dock 
Hoopaw,  D.  I. 
Haynie,  W.  J. 
Hancock,  Parks 
Harrison,  N.  C. 
Johnson,  L.  J. 
Johnson,  James 
Johnson,  Jerry 
Johnson,  James  M. 
Johnson,  R.   L. 
Kinney,  A.  G. 

315 


Knight,  Green 
Lyle,  Joseph 
Lyle,  Harrison 
Lyle,  William 
Luke,  John 
Lay,  Ansel 
Mayes,  C.  S. 
Mayes,  W.  H. 
Marler,  W.  L. 
Mise,  John 
Moon,  John 
Millsaps,  John 
McElhannon,  Kam 
McElhannon,  Tip 
McElhannon,  Will 
McElroy,  J.   G. 
Neal,  T.  N. 
Neal,  R.  W. 
Patrick,  V.  V. 
Patrick,  Troup 
Perkins,  Judge 
Perkins,  David 
Potts,  Mack 
Potts,  Bud 
Pike,  W.  I. 
Pentecost,  J.  C. 
Pentecost,   Mark 
Roberts,  Bluford 
Roberts,  Green 
Roberts,  Wilkes 
Rose,  Oliver 
Ryley,  E.  J. 
Ryley,  Bill 
Ray,  James 
Ross,  Jack 


Ross,  John 
Shields,  Robert 
Shields,  William 
Sims,  G.  D. 
Seymore,  Bud 
Seymore,  E.  H. 
Seymore,  John  T. 
Stewart,  Jesse 
Stewart,  Henry 
Stanley,  G.  W. 
Stanley,  Calvin 
Stephens,  John 
Spence,  R.  T. 
Spence,  Jerry 
Trout,  Thomas 
Thurmond,  Wm. 
Thurmond,  Jas, 
Thurmond,  Joe 
Vaughn,  W.  L. 
Wages,  William 
Wages,  Jack 
Wages,  James 
Wages,  Sanford 
Wilson,  Thomas 
Wilson,  W.  0. 
Wood,  Jesse 
Wood,  Jasper  N. 
Wood,  Green  C. 
Wood,  Green  S. 
Wood,  William 
White,  Jesse 
Wilbanks,  John 
Williams,  Bud 
Williamson,  John 
Wills,  Cicero 


316 


Wills,  J.  A. 
Wills,  Matt. 
Wills,  Jas.  A. 


Wills,  Lee 
Whitehead,  Willis 
Whitehead,  J.  N. 


Camp's  Company. 


Company  D.,  16th 
Allen,  Vard 
Bell,  C.  C. 

Bell,  Lafayette 
Bell,  Tyler 
Bell,  Ray 
Bell,  Marion 
Brooks,  A.  E. 
Bridges,  Harrison 
Blankinship,  Marion 
Blankinship,  Hutch 
Brown,  Joseph 
Brock,  Wm, 
Camp,  D.  A. 
Cronic,  L.  H. 
Cato,  John 
Cato,  Thomas 
Cato,  Monroe 
Cooper,  Jas. 
Clark,  Jas. 
Davenport,  Wm. 
Duncan,  W.  H. 
Duncan,  N.  B. 
Duncan,  J.  T. 
Duncan,  L.  G. 
Duncan,  George 
Deaton,  Thomas 
Elder,  Joshua 
Elsbury,  Wm. 
Flanigan,  James 


Georgia  Volunteer  Cavalry. 
Flanigan,  Jasper 
Flanigan,  Elijah 
Fleeman,  C.  S. 
Garner,  Eli 
Hudgins,  Francis 
Hudgins,  Jeptha 
Holland,  Jas. 
Holland,  Sanford 
Harvil,  James 
Irwin,  G.  W. 
Kerbo,  John 
Kerbo,  Marshall 
Kinney,  Thomas 
Lancaster,  Tillman 
Lancaster,  William 
Lott,  Jordan 
Lyle,  Ezra 
Lyle,  J.  B. 
Lyle,  J.  A. 
Major,  John 
Mangum,  Middleton 

McKinney,  

Maddox,  John 
Maddox,  Seaborn 
Mauldin,  M.  M. 
Manus,  George 
Matthews,  Ephraim 
Mahaffy,  Geo.  W. 
McEver,  Joseph 
317 


McEver,  Andrew 
McEver,  John  M. 
Osburn,  Green 
Pike,  W.  L. 
Pool,  J.  M. 
Park,  John 


Park,  L. 
Pierce,  Wm. 
Queen,  Elijah 
Smith,  John 
Wallace,  Pendleton 
White,  T.  W. 


^ 


Pittman's  Company. 
Militia  or  State  Troops. 


Adair,  Benjamin 
Atkins,  Hugh 
Arnold,  Washington 
Bennett,  Hosea 
Bailey,  Milton 
Bailey,  S.  E. 
Burgar,  David 
Barnett,  M.  P. 
Bowden,  J.  F. 
Cox,  Calvin 
Cook,  Albert 
Chatman,  John 
Duke,  Jones 
Duke,  Marshall 
David,  Haden 
David,  Frank 
Elrod,  A.  N. 
Hinton,  Mans 
Highfill,  Cap 
Highland,  J.  H. 
Hardy,  Thomas 
Harrison,  Perry 
Hood,  J.  H. 
Johnson,  Carey 
Lyle,  Byrd 
Lyle,  William 


Lyle,  David 
Lemmons,  A. 
Lasears,  David 
Lott,  Marion 
Moore,  Alsa 
Moore,  J.  A. 
Morris,  Robert 
Marlow,  Joseph  M. 
Martin,  John 
Murray,  William 
McLester,  J.  G. 
McElhannon,  Stewart 
McCune,  John 
Nix,  Thomas 
Orr,  S.  P. 
Page,  Pompey 
Pruit,  J.  W. 
Pittman,  A.  B. 
Pittman,  Cobb 
Potts,  William 
Parks,  Sell 
Rogers,  Blake 
Reynolds,  James 
Randolph,  J.  H.  C. 
Roberts,  Stephen 
Stapler,  T.  J. 


i 


318 


Smith,  Samuel 
Story,  Addison 
Story,  C.  T. 
Story,  James 
Segars,  Jack 
Segars,  Wash 
Sell,  Mark 
Thurmond,  Ludd 
Thompson,  James 
Vandiver,  James 


Watkins,  Lute  T. 
Walker,  Press 
Walker,  George 
Wilbanks,  Frank 
White,  William 
Williamson,  Sanford 
Wilson,  L.  C. 
Wofford,  W.  W. 
Yearwood,  Abraham 


Thompson's  Company. 


Company  G., 

Archer,  W.  J. 
Archer,  K.  B. 
Appleby,  J.  R. 
Abner,  J.  W. 
Allen,  T.  G. 
Bell,  W.  W. 
Bell,  Joe  S. 
Bell,  G. 
Bailey,  F.  M. 
Black,  Geo.  H. 
Black,  Thomas 
Braselton,  E.  W. 
Bradberry,  John 
Catlett,  John 
Coleman,  J.  F. 
Clanton,  William 
Culberson,  John 
Durham,  E.  M. 
Daniel,  D.  P. 
Daniel,  T.  A. 
Duke,  G.  R.,  Jr. 
Elrod,  G.  F. 


16th  Volunteer  Infantry. 

Elrod,  W.  B. 
Evans,  T.  H. 
Freeman,  Henry 
Finch,  C.  W. 
Few,  W.  S. 
Fields,  T.  J. 
Fields,  B.  F. 
Gwinn,  J. 
Garrison,  J.  C. 
Garrison,  John 
Garrison,  S.  R. 
Gilmer,  B.  F. 
Gilmer,  John 
Gilmer,  W.  L. 
Gilmer,  A.  C. 
Gilmer,  Obediah 
Gunter,  L.  C. 
Hardy,  A.  J. 
Hayes,  G.  S. 
Hay,  T.  W. 
Hay,  J.  T. 
Hay,  J.  G. 

319 


Harwell,  J.  W. 
Harwell,  C. 
Howard,  H. 
Henry,  George 
Highfill,  B.  F. 
Highfill,  John 
Hewitt,  Starkey 
Hewitt,  C. 
Haynie,  W.  J. 
Ivey,  J.  E. 
Johnson,  J.  S. 
Johnson,  J.  D. 
Kidd,  John 
Kelley,  J.  E. 
Lay,  T.  R. 
Lay,  M.  L. 
Lowery,  George 
Lee,  W. 
Lyle,  George 
Lyle,  Alford 
Lampkin,  F.  M. 
Lord,  M.  W. 
Morris,  W.  A. 
Michael,  Benjamin 
McElhannon,  B.  T. 
McElhannon,  W.  G. 
Moon,  C.  C. 
Moon,  J.  A. 
Merk,  J.  W. 
McEver,  C.  C. 
Nabors,  Z.  L. 
Nichols,  Geo.  N. 
Patrick,  M.  J. 
Patrick,  J.  W. 
Patton,  G.  W. 
Potter,  Thos.  N. 
Park,  M.  J. 


Park,  W.  A. 
Randolph,  H.  J. 
Randolph,  J.  T.  W. 
Randolph,  J.  T. 
Randolph,  W.  L.  0. 
Reinhardt,  J.  H. 
Rawson,  M.  W. 
Riley,  E.  G. 
Ross,  T.  L. 
Spence,  J.  W. 
Stevens,  E.  W. 
Steed,  M.  G. 
Tate,  William 
Thompson,  A.  C. 
Thompson,  E.  M. 
Thompson,  A.  M. 
Thompson,  W.  S. 
Thompson,  M. 
Thornton,  Isaac  R. 
Thurmond,  W.  P. 
Thurmond,  W. 
Trout,  W.  R. 
Trout,  J.  W. 
Whitehead,  J.  C. 
Whitehead,  C.  T. 
Whitehead,  M.  J. 
Williamson,  C.  B. 
Williamson,   Columbus 
Wilson,  John  K. 
Wilson,  Shade 
Watson,  J. 
Wood,  D.  W. 
Wood,  J.  R. 
Wood,  W.  J. 
Wood,  J.  C. 
Wood,  G.  L. 


320 


Names  of  soldiers  who  enlisted  in  companies,  in  the  county,  of 
which  the  "muster  rolls"  could  not  be  obtained;  and,  also,  those 
who  joined  companies  outside  of  Jackson  County.  At  least  99 
per  cent,  of  these  were  volunteers  in  the  service. 


Archer,  "William 
Anglin,  D.  J. 
Addington,  Z.  T. 
Addington,  Jesse 
Arnold,  John 
Arnold,   Robert 
Arnold,  Jack 
Appleby,  W.  C. 
Appleby,  John 
Alexander,  John,  Sr. 
Alexander,  John,  Jr. 
Bailey,  J.  M. 
Bradley,  H.  S. 
Boggs,  James 
Boggs,  W.  P. 

Boggs,  Milton 

Brown,  H.  H. 

Brown,  Tillman 

Brown,  C.  D. 

Burns,   Anderson 

Bolton,  Billy 

Bell,  Joseph 

Bell,  Walter 

Bell,  George 

Bell,  James 

Bowden,  William 

Baird,   Samuel 

Braselton,  J.  A. 

Brooks,  Thos.  D. 

Brooks,  C.  C. 

Brooks,   Alonzo 

Bryant,  Burrell 


Bryant,  W.  L. 
Bryant,  Moses 
Burson,  George 
Burson,  Dred 
Bates,  Wm.  N. 
Carithers,  W,  A. 
Collins,  W.  J. 
Collins,    Thomas 
Camp,  Mack 
Cash,  N.  B. 
Carter,  Paul 
Gofer,  Guss 
Cowen,  John 
Cowen,  Elijah 
Chandler,  Frank 
Chandler,   (Big)  Frank 
Chandler,  Joseph 
Coleman,  Frank 
Dixon,  J.  J. 
Dixon,  E.  J. 
Doss,  S.  J. 
Dowdy,  Richard 
Dowdy,  R.  W. 
Damons,  Cam 
Dunson,  Seaborn 
Daniel,  Foster 
Dunnahoo,  J.  G. 
Davis,  William 
Elrod,  Isaac 
Espey,  William 
Ellison,  James 
Evans,  William 


321 


Few,  M.  C. 
Fulcher,  William 
Gober,  Jay 
Gober,  John 
Gober,  Asbury 
Gilleland,  Jas. 
Gilleland,  Lafayette 
Garrison,  D.  W. 
Gant,  Adolphus 
Guffin,  William 
Guffin,  ''Esquire" 
Howington,  Jas. 
Howington,  Reuben 
Hardy,  John  N. 
Hardy,  Guss 
Hardy,  Thomas 
Human,  Green 
Hood,  J.  H. 
Hood,  C.  W. 
Hood,  W.  C. 
Hill,  Moses 
Hunter,  John 
Hunter,  Samuel 
Hewitt,  Jack 
Huie,  Jack 
Harrison,  W.  O. 
Harrison,  J.  F. 
Harrison,  T.  C. 
Harrison,  Jason 
Herrington,  Milton 
Ivey,  Richard 
Jackson,   Woods 
Jackson,  S.   W. 
Jackson,  S,  C. 
Jackson,  James 
Jarrett,  J.  A. 
Kenningham,  J.  0. 


Long,  Andy 
Lavender,  Ebo 
Lay,  Mark 
Linsey,  Melvin 
Mahaffy,  J.  A.  B. 
Mahaffy,  E.  V.  W. 
Mahaffy,  J.  W.  S. 
Matthews,  Miles 
Matthews,  Daniel 
Matthews,  Willis 
Matthews,   John 
Mitchell,  James 
Mitchell,  G.  W. 
Moon,  George 
Moon,  Thomas 
Moon,  T.  J. 
Marler,  D.  M. 
Martin,  Sim 
Martin,  Ansel 
McElhannon,   Jack 
McElhannon,  T.  A. 
McElhannon,  Calvin 
Maddox,  Joseph 
Maddox,  John 
McEver,  Jno. 
Nabors,   William 
Nash,  John  J. 
Nash,  J.  Polk 
Nash,  Reuben 
Nash,  Thos.  T. 
Nash,  Reuben  L. 
Nixon,  John 
Nixon,  Theo. 
Oliver,  J.  C. 
Orr,  William 
Orr,  George 
Orr,  W.  C. 


322 


Oshields,  John 

Park,  Livingston 

Park,  F.  M. 

Park,  High 

Park,  William 

Pittman,  Willis 

Pinson,  J.  N. 

Pettyjohn,  M.  G. 

Preston,  J.  M. 

Rogers,    William 

Rogers,  Thomas 
Riley,  Andy 
Riley,  J.  B. 
Rowdin,  Edward 
Roberts,  Joe 
Roberts,  W.  Clint 
Roberts,  W.  C. 
Roberts,  William 
Reynolds,  Frank 
Reynolds,  Appleton 
Reeves,   Thomas 
Randolph,  Hill 
Randolph,  Joshua 
Rainey,  H.  N.,  Sr. 
Riden,  Frank 
Shockley,  Thomas 
Shackelford,  C.  W. 
Shackelford,  T.  J. 
Sims,  J.  M. 
Shields,  William 
Simmons,  William 
Simmons,  M.  G. 
Simmons,  Moke 
Simmons,  Henry 
Simmons,  J.  B. 
Simmons,  James 
Simmons,  W.  Bit 


Simmons,  M.  T. 
Segars,  Dub 
Segars,   William 
Stephens,  W.  C. 
Shankle,  Seaborn 
Strickland,  Sweet 
Strickland,  Ed 
Strickland,  Chat 
Smith,  Zack  T. 

Simpkins,  Wm.  N. 

Sharp,  Jarrel 

Sharp,  J.  G. 

Sharp,  M.  C. 

Twitty,  William 

Tolbert,  Oliver 

Turner,  J.  J. 

Thompson,  Wiley 

Toney,  V.  A. 

Todd,  T.  B.  F. 

Titshaw,  L.  W.  C. 

Vandiver,  G.  C. 

Vandiver,  C.  C. 

Vandiver,  J.  W. 

Venable,   Arch 

Vandiford,  John 

Wood,  Daniel 

Wood,  John 

Watkins,  John 

Williams,  Dimp 

Williams,  T.  C. 

Ward,  John 
Ward,   William 
Wills,  Jack 
Weaver,  John  H. 
Williamson,   L. 
Williamson,  George 
Williamson,  J.  L. 


323 


"Williamson,  Jack 
Williamson,  James 
Weir,  Robert 
Weir,  Samuel  B. 
Witt,  George 
Wilson,  R.  M. 
White,  Andy 


White,  George 
White,  Robert 
White,  William 
White,  Henry 
Whitworth,  Jack 
Whitehead,  Thos. 
Whitehead,  George 


SOLDIERS  LIVING  IN  JACKSON  COUNTY. 


Aaron,  W.  R. 
Adams,  J,  R. 
Archer,  R.  B. 
Alexander,  C.  C. 
Alexander,  M.  P. 
Arnold,  C.  W. 
Ayers,  F.  M. 
Abner,  J.  W. 
Arnold,  J.  P. 
Bowles,  Frank 
Black,  J.  S. 
Bell,  H.  W. 
Bailey,  J.  L. 
Bailey,  J.  M. 
Bailey,  S.  E. 
Bailey,  S.  T. 
Banks,  James 
Barnett,  J.  G. 
Barnett,  H.  C. 
Barnes,  J.  E. 
Barnes,  B,  H. 
Benedict,  R.  S. 
Berry,  F.  T. 
Boggs,  W.  P. 
Borders,  F.  M. 
Brewer,  C.  D. 


Brewer,  B.  P. 
Brewer,  J.  A. 
Brooks,  T.  D. 
Brooks,  D.  M. 
Brooks,  C.  T. 
Brooks,  J,  L. 
Brown,  A.  L. 
Batchelor,  G.  W. 
Bruce,  W.  R. 
Bryan,  J,  R. 
Bryan,  J.  W. 
Bohannon,  B.  S. 
Barnett,  M.  P. 
Bradberry,  M.  W. 
Cobb,  A.  J. 
Castleberry,  E.  T. 
Campbell,  W.  D. 
Carethers,   W.  A. 
Carson,  G.  L. 
Coker,  J.  R. 
Cook,  H.  S. 
Cooper,  H.  H. 
Colquitt,  W.  J. 
Cramer,  J.  E. 
Crisler,  D.  A. 
Crisler,  W.  S. 


324 


Carrol,  J.  M. 
Dale,  W.  A. 
D alley,  J.  M. 
Dailey,  S.  T. 
Damron,  L.  A. 
David,  K.  S. 
Davis,  W.  C. 
Davis,  M.  T. 
Davis,  Isaac 
Davidson,  L.  M. 
Dadisman,  L.  M. 
Daniel,  J.  T. 
Doss,  S.  J. 
Doster,  E.  T. 
Doster,  F.  M. 
Duke,   John 
Duke,  G.  R. 
Duke,  G.  S. 
Duke,  M.  N. 

Duncan,  J.  C. 

Daily,  H.  C. 

Daily,  J.  M. 

Dixon,  Jno.  J. 

Elrod,  A.  N. 

Edwards,  Marcus 

Eberhart,  J.  A. 

Eads,  J.  C. 

Edgar,  Henry 

Evans,  Wm.   C. 

Fambrough,  A.  A. 

Farmer,  H.  G. 

Finch,  C.  W. 

Fowler,  W.  H. 

Fowler,  L.  C. 

Freeman,  W.  J. 

Foster,  W.  H. 

Garrison,  T.  W. 


Gilleland,  Lafayette 
Gillespie,  J.  B. 
Garrison,  C.  P. 
Gober,  F.  A. 
Gober,  W.  J. 
Greenway,  W.  M. 
Greeson,  J.  D. 
Grier,  Joseph 
Gunter,  L.  C. 
Fulcher,  J.  H. 
Hardigree,  D.   I. 
Hardy,  J.  N. 
Harmon,  J.  M. 

Harris,  A.  J. 

Hutchins,  J.  M. 

Hammond,  B.  B. 

Hawkins,  J.  M. 

Haynie,  "W.  J. 

Haynie,  W.  Jack 

Henry,  F.  P. 

Helton,  R.  H. 

Hill,  J.  M. 

Highfill,  T.  N. 

Holland,  S.  M. 

Hoopaugh,  D.  I. 

Holden,  J.  J. 

Hood,  Z.  W. 

Hood,  W.  C. 

House,  M.  C. 

House,  W.  H. 

Howington,  "W.  J. 

Hudson,  T.  P. 

Hudgins,  J.  I. 

Humphrey,  T.  G. 
Herrin,  M.   C. 
Hardman,  W.  S. 
Hamilton,  C.  T, 


325 


Hayes,  J.  W.  C. 
Howard,  W.  C. 
Holliday,  G.  R. 
Jackson,  S.  W. 
Jackson,  S.  C. 
Jarrett,  J.  A. 
Johnson,  J.  M. 
Jones,  W.  Jack 
Jacks,  C.  S. 
Jones,  James 
Jones,  W.  I. 
Jewell,  M.  L. 
Jennings,  P.  P. 
Kelley,  N.  J. 
Kinney,  A.  C. 
Kent,  W.  C. 
Kelley,  N.  J. 
Kinney,  A.   C, 
Kent,  W.  C. 
Latimer,  W.  M. 
Link,  S.  A. 
Little,  T.  A. 
Lord,  J.  W. 
Lyle,  G.  R. 
Lyle,  J.  B. 
Lyle,  I.  H. 
Lovin,  W.  P. 
Montgomery,  Jno. 
Marler,  J.  E. 
Martin,  P.  R. 
Mahaffy,  J.  A.  B. 
Harlow,  D.  D. 
Marlow,  R.  B. 
Martin,  E. 
Mathews,  W.  S. 
Mathews,  L.  J. 
Manus,  J.  D. 


Manus,  J.  B. 
Mauldin,  B.  L. 
Michael,  Starnes 
Meeks,  W.  H. 
Merk,  W.  H. 
Merk,  J.  W. 
McElhannon,  J.  W. 
McElhannon,  T.  A. 
McCurry,  S.  M. 
McEver,  Robt. 
McEver,  J.  M. 
McGinty,  W.  H. 
McEntyre,  J.  H. 
Minish,  R.  K. 
Millsaps,  M.  A. 
Mahaffy,  J.  A.  B. 
Mitchell,  G.  W. 
Montgomery,  C.  T. 
Montgomery,  C.  L. 
Moon,  G.  M.  D. 
Moon,  A.  A. 
Morris,  Thomas 
Morris,  Leroy 
Motes,  J.  W. 
Motes,  Jesse 
Moore,  G.  W. 
Moore,  A,  A. 
Moulder,  E.  M. 
Moulder,   Frank 
Murphey,  Jeremiah 
Nash,  J.  R. 
Nunn,  R.  C. 
Nicholson,  W.  D. 
Nowell,  J.  W. 
Niblack,  T.  H. 
Newman,  P.  A. 
Okelley,  G.  W.,  Sr. 


326 


Poole,  J.  M. 
Potts,  Wayne 
Parham,  W.  L. 
Perry,  W.  K. 
Pettyjohn,  J.  J. 
Pickelsimon,  W.  J. 
Pittman,  J.  G.  H. 
Porter,  M.  S.,  Sr. 
Parr,  J.  H. 
Pentecost,  R.  J. 
Quails,  Robert 
Quillian,  W.  A. 
Rainey,  H.  N.,  Sr. 
Randolph,  J.  H.  C. 
Randolph,  H.  J. 
Roberts,  J.  W. 
Roberts,  W.  C. 
Roberts,  W.  J. 
Roberts,  R.  J. 
Robertson,  W.  C. 
Rogers,  J.  D. 
Rooks,  G.  W. 
Roberts,  P.  J. 
Seymore,  R.  T. 
Sailors,  Chas,  W. 
Sailors,  G.  W. 
Sailors,  J.  M. 
Sells,  Jones 
Sisk,  A.  S. 
Shaw,  J.  P. 
Smith,  Andrew 
Smith,  T.  L. 
Smith,  Z.  H. 
Smith,  A.  N. 
Smith,  Chas.  H. 
Smith,  J.  M. 
Sprewell,  J.  M. 


Stapler,  T.  J. 
Stewart,  Robt.  G. 
Stewart,  J.  G. 
Stone,  Cal  C. 
Strange,  W.  N. 
Shore,  J.  P. 
Story,  C.  T. 
Story,  James 
Thomas,  J.  G. 
Thompson,  J.  W, 
Thompson,  W.  S. 
Titshaw,  L.  W.  C. 
Toney,  J.  M. 
Treadwell,  I. 
Trout,  N.  G. 
Turk,  A.  A. 
Vandiver,  J.  W. 
Venable,  Arch 
Venable,  J.  M. 
Voiles,  Ira 
Waddell,  Frank 

Wages,  W.  M. 

IVall,  J.  M. 

Walker,  G.  D. 

Wier,  John  G. 

Wall,  W.  H. 

Watson.  J.  H. 

Watts,  J.  L. 

Wheeler,  T.  V. 

Wheeler,  John 

White,  T.  W.,  Sr. 

White,  W.  C. 

Welborn,  W.  A. 

Wiley,  S.  C. 

Wiley,  J.  D. 

Wilkes,  A.  H. 

Wilbanks,  S.  A. 


327 


Wilbanks,  Solomon  Wood,  J.  R. 

Wills,  A.  Woods,  J.  N. 

Wilhite,  J.  M.  Wright,  James 

Williamson,  A.  A.  Wall,  J.  P. 

Winters,  J.  T.  Ward,  John 

Wilson,  W.  H.  Wright,  T.  M. 

Webb,  F.  P.  Wilson,  L.  C. 
Whitehead,  J.  R. 

The  ranks  are  being  rapidly  thinned  and  it  will  be  but  a  short 
time  until  all  have  passed  over  to  the  great  roll-call.  About  one- 
third  of  the  above  named  veterans,  enlisted  from  Jackson  County, 
the  others  having  moved  in  from  other  places.  But  they,  doubt- 
less, were  just  as  brave  as  our  boys  in  gray  and  they  are  welcome, 
yea,  thrice  welcome. 


CONVENTION  OF  1865. 

After  the  awful  war  of  the  '60 's  closed,  Governor  James  John- 
son called  for  delegates  to  be  sent  to  Milledgeville.  It  will  be 
remembered  Gov.  Johnson  was  Provisional  governor,  by  appoint- 
ment, and  he  was  thoroughly  in  sympathy  with  the  President  and 
the  only  thing  our  delegates  could  do  was  to  undo  the  acts  passed 
in  withdrawing  from  the  Union  or  do  nothing. 

One  of  the  "Ordinances"  adopted  by  this  convention  was  as 
follows : 

"We,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Georgia  in  convention,  at  our 
seat  of  government,  do  declare  and  ordain.  That  an  ordinance 
adopted  by  the  same  people,  in  convention,  on  the  nineteenth  day 
of  January  1861,  entitled  'An  ordinance  to  dissolve  the  Union  be- 
tween the  state  of  Georgia  and  the  other  states  united  with  her 
under  a  compact  of  government  entitled  "the  constitution  of  the 
United  States  of  America;'  "  also  an  ordinance,  adopted  by  the 
same  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  March  1861,  entitled,  An  ordinance 
to  adopt  and  ratify  the  constitution  of  the  Confederate  States  of 
America;  and  also  all  ordinances  and  resolutions  of  the  same, 
adopted    between    the    sixteenth    of   January    and   twentieth    of 

328 


March  in  the  year  aforesaid,  subversive  of,  or  antagonistic  to  the 
civil  and  military  authority  of  the  government  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  under  the  constitution  thereof,  be,  and  the 
same  are  hereby  repealed." 

The  Delegates  from  our  county  were :  Hons.  W.  L.  Marler,  J. 
B.  S.  Davis  and  William  S.  Thompson. 

After  all  the  deliberating  and  "swallowing"  these  cold  "ordi- 
nances," the  powers  that  were  in  Washington  would  not  accept 
the  humble  submission  of  Georgia  until  she  was  given  further 
punishment.  She  was  refused  representation  in  Congress  and 
was  put  under  military  rule.  Georgia  remained  thus  until  an 
election  was  called  by  the  military  in  charge,  to  send  delegates 
to  the  State  Capital  for  another  convention. 

This  election  lasted  three  days  and  was  held  at  the  county 
seats,  only,  and  was  guarded  in  this  county  by  the  Federal  soldiers 
with  guns  at  their  sides. 

The  convention  met  on  the  9th  of  December,  1867,  and  lasted 
until  the  following  March,  1868.  At  the  close  of  this  convention 
Hon.  Rufus  B.  Bulloch  was  made  Governor  of  Georgia. 

Jackson  county  was  represented  in  the  convention  by  Hon. 
William  L.  Marler. 


CONVENTION  OF  1877. 

While  the  Constitution  of  1868  was  a  very  good  instrument,  the 
people  felt  unkindly  towards  it  on  account  of  its  having  been 
forced  on  them  by  bayonet  rule.  The  Legislature,  1877,  approved 
an  Act  giving  the  people  the  right  to  vote  for  or  against  the 
holding  of  another  Constitutional  Convention.  The  vote  was 
light,  the  aggregate  being  only  87,238,  and  the  convention  was 
carried  by  9,124  majority. 

Jackson  County  was  represented  in  the  convention  by  D.  A. 
Camp,  who  served  the  county  faithfully  and  well. 

The  Constitution  of  '77  was  almost  an  ideal  instrument.  The 
State  is  still  controlled  by  it.  There  have  been  a  few  amendments 
made  and  doubtless  others  will  be  made  from  time  to  time  as  the 
emergencies  may  arise. 

329 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  GENERAL  ASSEMBLY  OF  GEORGIA, 
FROM  JACKSON  COUNTY. 

Representatives  Senators 

1799 — Buckner  Harris,  James  Pittman   Roderick  Easley 

1800 — Buckner  Harris,  Harmon  Reynolds Daniel  Bankston 

1801 — Harmon  Reynolds,  John  Hampton Roderick  Easley 

1802— John  Hampton,  Buckner  Harris David  Dickson 

1803— Samuel  Henderson,  George  Reid David  Dickson 

1804 — Samuel  Henderson,  Geo.  Reid John  Hampton 

1805 — Buckner  Harris,  William  Mathews John  Hampton 

1806 — Sam  Henderson,  Wm.  Mathews John  Hampton 

1807 — Hugh  Montgomery,  Ealton  Harris,  Wm.  Mathews.  .Sam  Henderson 
1808 — Hugh  Montgomery,  Thomas  Boyle,  Jas.  Cochran.  .Sam  Henderson 

1809 — James  Cochran,  Hugh  Montgomery Sam  Henderson 

1810 — Hugh  Montgomery,  Jas.  Cochran,  Wm.  Mathews.. Sam  Henderson 
1811 — Hugh  Montgomery,  Jas.  Cochran,  Wm.  Mathews.. Sam  Henderson 

1812 — Wm.  Mathews,  Jas.  Cochran,  David  Witt Hugh  Montgomery 

1813 — Wm.  Mathews,  David  Witt,  Jas.  Cochran Hugh  Montgomery 

1814 — David  Witt,  Jas.  Cochran,  Wm.  Mathews Hugh  Montgomery 

1815 — David  Witt,  Jas.  Cochran,  Wm.  Mathews Hugh  Montgomery 

1816 — Wm.  Mathews,  Jas.  Cochran,  David  Witt Hugh  Montgomery 

1817 — Jas.  Cochran,  David  Witt,  George  Reid Hugh  Montgomery 

1818 — David  Witt,  Jas.  Cochran,  James  Liddell Hugh  Montgomery 

1819 — Edwin  Gresham,  Jas.  Liddell,  David  Witt William  Pentecost 

1820— Edwin  Gresham,  Jas.  Liddell,  David  Witt William  Mathews 

1821— Edwin  Gresham,  David  Witt,  Jas.  Liddell William  D.  Martin 

1822 — Allen  Lawton,  John  Young,  Jas.  Cochran Jos.  J.  Singleton 

1823 — Jas.  Cochran,  J.  J.  Singleton,  David  M.  Burns.  .Hugh  Montgomery 
1824 — David  AVitt,  F.  Merriwether,  Jas.  Cochran. .  .Hugh  Montgomery 
1825 — David  M.  Burns,  Wm.  D.  Martin,  F.  Merriwether.  .Jas.  Liddell 

1826 — Wm.  D.  Martin,  Samuel  Barnett,  Jas.  Cochran David  Witt 

330 


] 827— Sam  Barnett,  Jas.  Cochran,  David  M.  Burns Wm.  D.  Martin 

1828— David  M.  Burns,  George  Shaw,  Thomas  J.  Bowen.  .Wm.  D.  Martin 
1829— David  M.  Burns,  George  Shaw,  Thomas  J.  Bowen. .  .F.  Merriwether 
1830— David  M.  Burns,  Thos.  J.  Bowen,  Jas.  Liddell. .  Jos.  J.  Singleton 

1831— Sam  Barnett,  William  Jones Jos.  J.  Singleton 

1832— Jas.  Liddell,  Thomas  J.  Bowen,  David  M.  Burns.  .Jos.  J.  Singleton 
1833— David  M.  Burns,  John  G.  Pittman,  Richard  Pentecost.  .Jas.  Liddell 

1834 — Richard  Pentecost,  David  M.  Burns,  J.  G.  Pittman Jas.  Liddell 

1835— Richard  Pentecost,  David  M.  Burns,  J.  G.  Pittman Jas.  Liddell 

1836— Richard  Pentecost,  David  M.  Burns,  J.  G.  Pittman Jas.  Liddell 

1837— Richard  Pentecost,  Bailey  Chandler,  J.  Horton. .  .David  M.  Burns 

1838— A.  DeLaperriere,  John  Horton,  Middleton  Witt George  Shaw 

1839— A.  DeLaperriere,  Bailey  Chandler,  P.  McMillan . . .  Sterling  Mayes 

1840— Bailey  Chandler,  Peter  McMillan,  H.  Webb Sterling  Mayes 

1841— Nathaniel  C.  Jarrett,  Bailey  Chandler Sterling  Mayes 

1842— N.  C.  Jarrett,  Bailey  Chandler,  Russel  Daniel. .  .Thos.  F.  Anderson 

1843— John  Randolph,  Russell  Daniel Thos.  F.  Anderson 

1844 — No  Session 

1845— William  Bell,  Robert  Moon Thos.  F.  Anderson 

1846 — No  Session 

1847— Richard  Pentecost William  Clayton 

1848— No  Session 

1849— Michael  Mintz William  Clayton 

1850— Michael  Mintz William  Clayton 

1851-52— S.  P.  Thurmond  William  Mosley 

1853-54— Peter  E.  McMillan Robt.  Moon 

1855-56— R.  J.  Park,  R.  J.  Daniel  Robt.  White 

1857-58— C.  F.  Hardy,  M.  M.  Mintz J.  C.  Hayes 

1859-60— M.  M.  Mintz,  R.  J.  Daniel A.  DeLaperriere 

1861-62— Hosea  C.  Giddens Samuel  Stephens 

1863-64— J.  Bell,  A.  C.  Shockley   Robt.  White 

331 


1865— J.  Bell,  A.  C.  Shockley W.  R.  Bell 

1866— Pittsfield  F.  Hinton W.  R.  Bell 

1867— No  Session 

1868— A.  T.  Bennett A.  M.  Stringer 

1869— A.  T.  Bennett A.  M.  Stringer 

1870— A.  T.  Bennett A.  M.  Stringer 

1871-72— John  R.  Hancock  M.  V.  Estes 

1873-74— G.  R.  Duke  M.  V.  Estes 

1875-76— G.  R.  Duke,  J.  M.  Potts G.  E.  Deadwyler 

1877— G.  R.  Duke,  A.  T.  Bennett G.  E.  Deadwyler 

1878-79— A.  T.  Bennett,  W.  I.  Pike A.  D.  Candler  (Hall  Co.) 

1880-81— A.  T.  Bennett,  J.  B.  Silman B.  F.  Suddeth  (Banks  Co.) 

1882-83— James  Hudson,  J.  B.  Silman W.  I.  Pike  (Jackson  Co.) 

1884-85— T.  H.  Niblack,  N.  B.  Cash Oliver  Clark  (Hall  Co.) 

1886-87— T.  C.  Williams,  T.  E.  Key Martin  L.  McDonald  (Banks  Co.) 

1888-89— Z.  W.  Hood,  J.  N.  Twitty W.  S.  McCarty  (Jackson  Co.) 

1890-91— H.  H.  Hancock,  J.  N.  Twitty  H.  H.  Beard  (Hall  Co.) 

1892-93— W.  I.  Pike,  W.  T.  Thurmond J.  K.  Thompson  (Banks  Co.) 

1894-95— L.  F.  Sell,  G.  D.  Bennett T.  S.  Johnson  (Jackson  Co.) 

1896-97— L.  F.  Sell,  G.  D.  Bennett   J.  E.  Redwine   (Hall  Co.) 

1898-99— J.  N.  Holder,  J.  R.  Hosch J.  K.  Thompson  (Banks  Co.) 

1900-01— J.  R.  Hosch,  T.  H.  Niblack J.  N.  Holder  (Jackson  Co.) 

1902-03— L.  G.  Hardman,  J.  N.  Holder H.  H.  Perry  (Hall  Co.) 

1904— L.  G.  Hardman,  J.  N.  Holder,  Short  Term. .  .H.  H.  Perry  (Hall  Co.) 

1905-06— J.  N.  Holder,  L.  G.  Hardman P.  F,  M.  Furr  (Banks  Co.) 

1907-08— J.  N.  Holder,  A.  M.  Flanigan L.  G.  Hardman  (Jackson  Co.) 

1909-10— L.  G.  Hardman,  J.  N.  Holder.  .  .Howard  Thompson  (Hall  Co.) 

1911-12— J.  E.  J.  Lord,  J.  N.  Holder T.  F.  Hill  (Banks  Co.) 

1913-14— L.  C.  Allen,  H.  N.  Rainey,  Jr W.  W.  Stark  (Jackson  Co.) 


332 


Jackson  County  has  been  honored  by  having  had  two  of  her 
worthy  citizens  elected  to  the  Speakership  of  the  General  As- 
sembly of  Georgia.  Hon,  David  Witt  held  this  position  in  1820 
and  1821.  Hon.  John  N.  Holder  held  the  place  of  Speaker  from 
1909  to  1912,  It  is  conceded  by  all  that  Mr.  Holder  ranked  among 
the  very  highest  as  Speaker. 

Note:  In  1843  the  state  was  divided  into  forty-seven  Senatorial  dis- 
tricts. Each  district  was  composed  of  two  counties,  except  Chatham,  which 
was  considered  a  district  alone.  In  this  arrangement  our  county  was  in 
the  38th.  But  the  Convention  of  1862,  at  Savannah,  paragraph  I.,  section 
n,  article  II,  of  the  constitution  of  the  state  was  so  amended  that  it  pro- 
vided that  there  shall  be  44  districts  composed  of  three  contiguous  counties. 

Paragraph  I.,  section  II.,  article  HI.,  of  the  constitution  of  Georgia,  of 
1877,  declares  "the  44  districts  shall  be  composed  as  follows,  etc."  Under 
this,  Jackson,  Hall  and  Banks  form  the  33rd  Senatorial  district,  as  had 
been  the  case  with  these  counties  since  1861. 


SOME  STRANGE  OLD  PAPERS,  COPIED  FOR  YOUR 
PLEASURE. 

In  book  ''A  and  B"  on  pages  10  and  11  in  the  office  of  the 
Clerk  of  the  Superior  Court,  this  county,  is  this  record : 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  I  Daniel  W.  Easley  of 
the  county  of  Jackson  &  state  of  Georgia  for  and  in  consideration 
of  the  sum  of  four  thousand  four  hundred  &  ninety  dollars  to  me 
in  hand  paid  by  Roderick  Easley  of  the  county  and  state  afore- 
said the  receipt  whereof  I  do  hereby  acknowledge  have  bargained 
sold  &  delivered  unto  sd.  Rod.  Easley  his  heirs  &  assigns  forever 
to  have  &  to  hold  the  following  property  to  wit  One  Negro  Man 
named  Bob  &  his  wife  Molly  &  two  children  Rachel  &  Clary  One 
Negro  woman  named  Lucy  &  children  Abram  Nancy  &  Winny. 
two  negro  men  named  Tom  &  Peter  two  Boys  named  Bob  &  Adam 
two  negro  women  Frank  &  Fann  one  negro  girl  named  Esther 
One  hundred  &  Thirty  head  of  Black  Cattle  of  Different  marks 
six  head  of  horses  One  bay  stud  Two  Gildens  two  blacks  and  one 
sorrel  twenty  head  of  sheep  of  Different  marks  One  hundred  head 
of  hogs  in  said  Daniels  mark  five  feather  beds  &  furniture  to 
have  and  to  hold  the  sd.  property  for  his  own  proper  use  &  benefit 

333 


forever  &  firmly  by  these  presents,  do  warrant  &  forever  defend 
the  above  named  property  from  all  person  or  persons  whatsoever 
that  shall  or  may  lay  any  right  title  or  claim  to  sd.  property  unto 
Rod.  Easley  his  heirs  executors  &  administrators  firmly  by  these 
presents.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  & 
seal  this  21  day  of  November  1796. 

"Signed  sealed  &  Delivered  )         ..j^^^.^j  ^  ^^^^^y, 

in  presence  of  "Geo.  Taylor,  J.  P."    j 
"Wm.  Streetman" 

The  above  Bill  of  Sale  is  here  inserted  for  no  other  purpose  than 
to  let  the  young  reader,  who  may  not  have  known  of  these  sales, 
see  for  himself  that  human  beings  were  once  handled  in  the  mar- 
ket like  cattle. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  there  is  not,  to-day,  a  man  or  woman  in 
the  county  that  would  wish  to  see  these  things  brought  back  to 
this  lovely  land  of  ours. 

Note:  We  wish  to  call  the  attention  of  the  young  reader  to  these  ex- 
tracts from  the  records  at  the  court-house.  They  are  exact  copies.  We 
have  no  right  to  change  them  one  iota.  If  the  punctuation  or  spelling  is 
wrong  it  must  be  copied  that  way.  Some  of  them  seem  ridiculous,  but  let 
us  remember  they  had  but  few  advantages  that  you  and  I  have  to-day. 


Cheap  Lands. 

It  sounds  very,  very  strange  to  the  reader  to  hear  that  a  great 
deal  of  the  best  farming  lands  of  our  county  was  once  sold  for 
taxes ;  but  such  is  the  case. 

From  the  records,  we  learn  that  at  the  close  of  the  Eevolu- 
tionary  War,  many  "grants"  were  made  to  the  soldiers  and 
others.  The  deeds,  as  are  used  to-day,  were  then  called  "war- 
rants." These  warrants  were  deeds  signed  by  the  Governor  of 
the  state.  Many  of  the  citizens  of  the  county  now  have  these 
old  grants  or  warrants  among  their  papers,  forming  what  they 
are  proud  to  show  as  a  complete  "chain  of  title." 

A  large  number  of  these  "grantees"  never  saw  the  land  to 
which  they  had  the  deeds.     They  seemed  to  think  this  part  of 

334 


Georgia  was  unfit  for  farming  purposes  and  therefore  paid  no  at- 
tention to  their  claims,  in  fact,  one  historian  wrote  fifty  years 
later  that  all  of  the  land  was  poor  except  the  * '  bottoms. ' ' 

By  referring  to  records  in  the  Clerk's  office,  it  will  be  found 
that  in  book  "A  and  B"  on  pages  154  to  180,  a  Mr.  John  Cobb  of 
Jefferson  County  and  a  Mr,  Benning  bought  at  Tax  Collector's 
sale  14,123  acres  of  Jackson  County  lands  for  the  aggregate 
amount  of  71  pounds  and  1  shilling,  English  money,  or  in  our 
money,  about  $344,591/4  (reckoning  the  English  pound  at  $4.85). 
These  lands  lay  around,  or  in  the  vicinity  of  Talasee  Shoals,  some 
near  the  little  town  of  Attica  and  other  tracts  between  Commerce 
and  Hurricane  Shoals.    These  sales  took  place  in  1792-4-5. 

Our  friend,  Mr.  Cobb,  must  have  become  "land  poor"  as  he  sold 
in  1799,  7,025  acres  of  this  land  for  $10.00.  A  copy  of  the  deed  can 
be  found  in  this  work.  None  of  the  territory  that  sold  so  cheap 
then  could  be  bought  for  less  than  $50.00  an  acre,  at  the  present 
time. 

A  "Grant"  from  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  Georgia,  1785. 

State  of  Georgia. 

By  the  Honorable   Samuel  Elbert  Esquire   Captain,   General, 
Governor  and  Commander  in  Chief  in  and  over  the  said  state. 
To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Greeting: 

Know  ye,  that  inpursuance  of  the  Act  for  oppening  the  land  office 
and  by  virtue  of  the  powers  in  me  vested,  I  have  by  and  with 
the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Honorable  and  Executive  Council, 
given  &  granted  land  by  these  presents  in  the  name  &  behalf  of 
the  said  state  Do  give  and  grant  unto  William  Few,  Esquire  his 
heirs  &  assigns  forever  All  that  tract  or  parcel  of  land,  containing 
Seven  hundred  &  twenty  five  acres  Situate,  lying  and  being  in  the 
County  of  Franklin  state  aforesaid,  butting  and  bounding  On  all 
sides  by  vacant  land  having  such  shape  form  and  marks  as  appear 
by  a  plat  of  the  same  hereunto  annexed  together  with  all  and 
singular  the  Rights  members  and  appurtenances  thereof  whatso- 
ever to  the  said  tract  or  parcel  of  land  belonging  or  in  any  wise 
appertaining;  And  also  all  the  Estate,  Rights,  Title,  Interest 
Claim  &  demand  of  the  state  aforesaid  of  in  to  or  out  of  the  same 

335 


To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  tract  or  parcel  of  land  and  all  and 

singular  the  premises  aforesaid  with  their  and  every  of  their 

Rights  members  and  appurtenances  unto  the  said  William  Few 

his  heirs  &  assigns  to  his  and  their  own  proper  use  and  behoof 

forever  in  fee  simple. 

Given  under  my  hand  in  Council,  and  the  Great  seal  of  the  said 
State,  this  Thirteenth  day  of  October  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
One  thousand  seven  hundred  &  eighty  five  and  in  the  Tenth  year 

of  American  Independence. 

Signed  by  his  honor  the  Govenor 

in  Council  the  13th  day  of  I  o   1:^11,    j. 

October  1785.  ^  ^- ^^^^^*- 

G.Handley  C.  C. 

Registered  the  19th  day  of  October  1785. 

The  above  grant  is  here  given  that  the  reader  may  see  exactly 
what  is  meant  by  the  Governor's  "warrants"  to  land.  This  tract 
of  land  is  in  Cunningham  district,  this  county,  and  is  known  as 
the  Perry  and  Franklin  Harrison  home  place,  four  miles  north  of 
Jefferson  and  three  miles  east  of  Pendergrass,  Ga.,  on  the  old  state 
road.  Mr.  James  F.  Harrison  has  the  "grant"  among  his  old 
deeds,  forming  a  complete  chain  of  title. 

On  page  182  of  Book  "A  and  B,"  of  the  Clerk  Superior  Court's 
records  can  be  found  this  very  remarkable  deed — that  is  if  the 
price  of  land  of  to-day  is  taken  into  consideration : 

"Georgia.  This  Indenture  made  this  fifteenth  day  of  March  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety 
nine  and  in  the  twenty  third  year  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  between  John  Cobb  of  the  county  of 
Jefferson  and  State  aforesaid  of  the  one  part  And  Rhoderick 
Easley  of  the  County  of  Jackson  &  State  aforesaid  of  the  other 
part  Witnesseth  that  the  said  John  Cobb  for  and  in  Considera- 
tion of  the  sum  of  ten  dollars  to  him  in  hand  paid,  well  and  truly 
paid  by  the  said  Rhoderick  Easley  at  or  before  the  Sealing  and 
delivery  of  these  presents,  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby  acknowl- 
edged hath  granted  bargained  sold  released  &  confirmed.     And 

336 


by  these  presents  doth  grant  bargain  sell  release  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  Rhoderick  Easley,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  all  those 
following  tracts  of  land  (to  wit)  one  of  four  thousand  and  twenty 
five  acres,  more  or  less,  situated  lying  and  being  in  the  County 
of  Jackson,  formaly  Franklin  County  on  Marbury's  Creek,  grant- 
ed to  Horatio  Marbury.  Also  One  other  tract  of  three  thousand 
acres  lying  and  being  in  the  county  aforesaid  on  McNutt's  creek 
and  the  waters  of  Barber's  Creek,  granted  to  John  P.  Wagnon, 
bounded  by  Horatio  Marbury  &  Stinson,  together  with  all  and 
singular  the  rights,  members  and  appurtenances  thereunto  be- 
longing, to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  tract  &  premises  to  the  only 
proper  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of  the  said  Rhoderick  Easley  his 
heirs  forever  And  the  said  John  Cobb  for  himself  his  heirs  and 
assigns  will  warrant  and  forever  defend  the  aforesaid  tracts  of 
land  and  premises  unto  the  said  Rhoderick  Easley  his  heirs  for- 
ever against  him  the  said  John  Cobb  &  his  heirs,  and  all  and  every 
other  person  or  persons  whatsoever.  In  witness  whereof  he  the 
said  John  Cobb  has  hereunto  set  his  hand  and  Seal  the  day  and 
year  first  above  written.     Signed,  Sealed  and  delivered  in  the 

presence  of -B.  Easley"     )  -John  Cobb  (L.  S.)" 

Robt.  Jackson  '       j 
"Ben  Easley  being  duly  sworn  saith  he  saw  John  Cobb  sign 
and  acknowledge  the  above  Deed,  and  that  he  saw  Robert  Jackson 
subscribe  as  a  witness  with  him." 

"Sworn  to  before  me  this  fifteenth  day  of  March  1799.     Ben 
Easley."    James  Pittman  J.  P. 

"Recorded  15th  of  March  1799. 

"Geo.  Taylor  Clk." 
The  above  is  an  exact  copy,  capitalization,  punctuation  and  all. 


HEALTH  AND  LONGEVITY  OP  THE  PEOPLE. 

Jackson  County  has  always  stood  at  the  head  of  the  list,  as  a 
healthy  place  in  which  to  live,  noted  for  its  good  water  and 
healthful  climate. 

337 


Since  many  of  the  streams  have  become  choked  with  trash 
and  sand,  causing  them  to  overflow  the  adjoining  lands,  in  some 
sections,  malarial  fevers  are  felt.  But  the  people  are  beginning 
to  realize  that  by  proper  drainage,  this  evil  can  be  overcome. 
There  are  now  drainage  companies  being  organized  that  promise 
to  not  only  improve  the  health  of  the  county  but  to  reclaim 
thousands  of  acres  of  as  good  land  as  there  is  in  the  state. 

The  surveyors  have  demonstrated  that  there  is  ample  "fall"  to 
carry  the  waters,  if  given  a  clear  channel  in  which  to  flow.  This 
has  been  proven  beyond  a  shadow  of  doubt. 

At  a  cost  of  some  twenty  dollars  per  acre  this  land  can  be 
brought  into  cultivation.  When  that  is  accomplished,  what  is  now 
waste  land  will  produce  enough  food  for  every  man  and  beast 
within  the  bounds  of  the  county. 

This  county  is  noted  for  the  long  life  of  many  of  its  people.  A 
Mrs.  Loggins  is  said,  on  good  authority,  to  have  lived  115  years. 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Merk,  grandmother  of  Mr.  Henry  Merk,  died  at 
116.  We  give  below  short  sketches  of  three  dear  old  mothers 
that  are  nearing  the  century  mark : 

Mrs.  Virginia  Elizabeth  Veal 

was  born  September  29,  1822.  She  lived  in  Hall  until  her  mar- 
riage to  Mr.  Elijah  A.  Veal,  of  this  county,  in  the  year  1838. 

Mrs.  Veal's  maiden  name  was  Miss  Kidd.  She  is  the  mother  of 
14  children,  7  sons  and  7  daughters.  She  has  62  grandchildren, 
142  great-grandchildren  and  17  great-great-grandchildren. 

With  her  weight  of  92  years,  she  is  "hale  and  hearty"  and  does 
light  housekeeping,  making  her  home,  not  on  her  own  farm  but 
with  one  of  her  children,  Mrs.  T.  T.  Cooper,  near  Braselton,  Ga. 

Mrs.  Rebecca  Hancock 

was  born  January  28,  1818.  Her  maiden  name  was  Miss  Lyle. 
She  was  married  to  Mr.  John  R.  Hancock.  December  30,  1834.  To 
them  were  born  10  children,  eight  of  whom  lived  to  be  grown, 
and  four,  Mrs.  E.  J.  Whitehead,  Mrs.  Fannie  Stanton,  Mrs.  Emma 
Bush  and  J.  B.  Hancock,  are  still  living. 

338 


Mrs.  Hancock  has  17  grandchildren  and  26  great-grandchildren. 
While  more  than  96  years  old,  she  is  able  to  sit  and  converse  with 
her  friends  and  neighbors  for  quite  a  long  while  each  day. 

Mrs.  Martha  Gober 
was  born  on  the  27th  day  of  April,  1815.    Her  maiden  name  was 
Miss  Hudson.     She  was  married  to  Mr.  Henry  B.  Gober  on  Jan- 
uary 26,  1837.     To  them  were  born  four  children,  two  boys  and 
two  girls. 

She  has  18  grandchildren.  Notwithstanding  her  pilgrimage  of 
nearly  100  years,  she  holds  up  wonderfully  weU.  Her  mind  is 
reasonably  active  and  she  can  converse  with  her  friends  very 
intelligently. 

SOME  FACTS  ABOUT  JACKSON  COUNTY.* 

Jackson  County  lands  sell  for  $50  and  up.  Compare  this  with 
the  price  asked,  but  not  always  obtained,  for  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania and  New  Jersey  lands  at  $25  and  less  per  acre. 

One  historian,  sixty  years  ago,  as  has  been  mentioned  in  this 
work,  said  the  lands  of  our  county  were  "mostly  very  poor, 
except  the  river  bottoms."  How  does  that  strike  the  young 
mind  of  to-day?  Even  thirty  years  ago,  land  in  some  sections 
of  the  county  was  considered  too  worthless  to  clear  away  the 
timber  for  cultivation. 

Such  lands  got  the  high  sounding  name  of  Pea  Ridge  and 
Chinquapin  Ridge.  Said  to  have  been  called  by  those  names  be- 
cause the  land  would  not  sprout  peas  but  would  grow  the  little 
sweet  nut  that  the  children  called  "chinkey  pins."  (The  writer 
is  very  sorry  to  part  company  with  these  little  friends  of  by- 
gone days.) 

These  same  ridge  lands  are  selling  to-day  at  from  $50  to  $100 
and  difficult  to  obtain  at  that  price.  They  are  producing  one 
bale  of  cotton  or  50  bushels  of  corn  per  acre. 

What  has  wrought  this  seeming  miracle,  you  say.     The  answer 

•We  are  indebted  to  THE  FAKM  AND  HOMESTEAD  for  much  of  the 
information  contained  herein. 

339 


is  not  far  to  seek:  improved  methods  in  farming.  Our  farmers 
are  not  only  carrying  out  the  old  adage  of  ''growing  two  blades 
where  only  one  grew"  but  are  doubling  and  thribbling  the  yields 
on  the  "old  hills  of  Jackson  County." 

Indeed,  Jackson  ranks  second  in  agricultural  importance  in 
the  state.  While  many  of  the  other  counties  were  settled  sixty 
or  seventy  years  before  Jackson,  she  is  forging  her  way  to  the 
very  front. 

Population. 

In  1890,  this  county  had  19,176  inhabitants ;  in  1900,  24,039  and 
in  1910,  30,169.  At  the  same  rate  of  gain,  the  population  stands 
at  about  32,000, — not  quite  70  to  the  square  mile. 

There  are  2,839  white  boys  and  2,663  white  girls  of  school  age 
in  the  county  and  1,278  colored  boys  and  1,236  colored  girls,  of 
school  age,  making  a  grand  total  of  8,016. 

The  census  of  1913  shows  the  rate  of  illiteracy  among  white 
children  to  be  5.1,  a  gain  over  1908  of  2.4. 

Forty-five  counties  in  Georgia  are  larger  than  Jackson,  but 
only  one,  Bulloch  County,  produced  more  crop-wealth  during 
the  census  year.  And  some  years  Jackson  produces  a  greater 
number  of  bales  of  cotton  than  any  in  the  state. 

Jackson  has  some  large  land  owners  but  the  county  is  made  up 
largely  of  small  farmers.  Nearly  two-thirds  of  the  farms  are 
less  than  50  acres  in  size.  The  total  wealth,  including  city  prop- 
erty, according  to  the  census  report  1912,  was  nearly  5,500,000 
dollars.  About  $47,000  per  year  gain  for  the  117  years  since  the 
organization  of  the  county. 

The  money  value  of  the  crops  of  1910,  was,  in  round  numbers, 
$4,582,000.  The  question  will  arise,  and  naturally  so,  too.  What 
becomes  of  all  that  great  wealth?  The  answer  is  not  hard  to  find. 
Jackson  County  has  been  under  the  reign  of  the  great  king,  King 
Cotton, 

The  tide  is  turning.  In  the  year  1913,  our  people  produced 
more  corn  and  oats,  peas,  hay  and  syrup  than  in  any  previous 
year  of  the  history  of  the  county. 

340 


While  the  people  of  Jackson  County  have  been  inclined  to 
agriculture,  yet,  from  time  to  time,  some  have  given  attention 
to  manufacturing. 

As  early  as  1820,  Mr.  James  Orr,  father  of  Professor  S.  P.  Orr, 
now  of  Athens,  had  a  cotton  gin  establishment  in  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Merk  Settlement,  between  Dry  Pond  and  Apple 
Valley.  Mr.  Orr  and  Mr.  Cowan  constructed  a  machine  with 
which  the  "teeth"  of  the  saws  could  be  cut  as  speedily  as  a  sew- 
ing machine  can  make  stitches,  whereas,  before  that  invention, 
each  tooth  was  made  by  hand.  They  never  had  their  idea 
patented  but  allowed  others  to  use  it  free. 

The  iron  used  in  these  gins  was  smelted  at  Hurricane  Shoals. 

Many  of  our  older  citizens  can  recall  the  old  hat  factories  of 
our  county.  At  the  old  mill  site,  now  owned  'by  Mr.  R.  C. 
Roberts,  some  three  miles  above  Jefferson,  was  a  factory  that 
produced  an  excellent  grade  of  hats  from  native  wool.  There 
was  another  factory  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  also.  These 
factories  flourished  for  many  years  before  the  Civil  war,  and  the 
first  named,  until  after  that  great  strife  was  settled. 

Commerce  had  a  foundry  and  machine  shop  some  years  past. 
"Winder  now  has  a  foundry  and  shops  that  is  a  paying  investment. 

Jefferson,  Winder  and  Commerce  all  have  cotton  mills  that  give 
employment  to  many  people  and  these  mills  turn  out  a  first  class 
product.  Each  of  these  cities,  as  well  as  Pendergrass,  Maysville 
and  Hoschton,  have  oil  mills  with  fertilizer  plants  attached. 
Winder  has  an  overall  factory,  also.  Braselton  has  a  fertilizer 
plant  known  as  "The  Co-Operative  Fertilizer  Co." 

Maysville  has  two  banking  establishments ;  Commerce  has  three ; 
Jefferson,  three;  Statham,  one;  Winder,  three;  Hoschton,  one; 
Braselton,  one;  and  Pendergrass,  one,  all  of  which  are  owned 
and  conducted  by  Jackson  County  people. 

This  county  has  three  railroads.  Gainesville  Midland,  through 
the  center  and  on  the  west ;  Seaboard  on  the  south,  and  the  South- 
ern (old  North  Eastern)  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  county. 

The  National  Highway,  from  Atlanta  to  New  York,  crosses  the 
county,  entering  at  Winder,  passing  through  Jefferson  and  Com- 

341 


merce  and  thence  to  the  Banks  County  line.     This  county  has 
many  other  graded  roads,  also. 

The  Financial  Condition  of  Jackson. 

From  the  general  presentments  of  the  Grand  Jury,  of  February, 
1914,  it  is  observed  that  the  county  has  a  good  court-house,  sub- 
stantial jail,  home  for  the  poor,  roads  supplied  with  good  bridges 
across  all  the  streams,  is  out  of  debt,  no  bonded  indebtedness,  and 
has  a  cash  balance  of  $26,314.05. 

Talmo  Cotton. 

It  is  not  generally  known,  but  nevertheless  true,  that  Talmo 
enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  located  in  the  midst  of  a  section 
that  is  noted  for  its  fine  cotton. 

In  the  cotton  trade  it  is  known  as  the  ''Talmo  Cotton  District." 

This  little  city  is  surrounded  by  some  twelve  or  fourteen  square 
miles  of  gray — nearly  white — lands  that  produce  the  finest  "short 
staple"  cotton  in  the  world.  In  fact,  most  of  Jackson  County 
lands  produce  a  fine  grade  of  cotton. 

When  the  Pacolet  Cotton  Mill  Company  was  looking  for  a  loca- 
tion suitable  to  place  their  dismantled  mills,  they  chose  Gaines- 
ville, Ga.,  in  order  that  they  might  be  in  close  touch  with  this 
section  of  Georgia — Jackson  and  surrounding  section. 

This  cotton  is  sought  after  by  all  mill  men  and  always  com- 
mands a  higher  price  than  any  other  cotton. 

Water  Power. 

Jackson  County  has  no  navigable  streams  but  does  possess  some 
fine  water-powers.  There  is  enough  power  going  to  waste  on  the 
North  Oconee  river  to  put  electric  lights  on  the  streets  and  in  the 
buildings  of  every  town  in  the  whole  county.  And  there  is  enough 
power  wasting  in  the  different  streams  over  the  county  to  light, 
with  the  proper  storage  facilities,  every  home  in  and  turn  every 
wheel  of  machinery  in  the  county.  This  can  be  utilized  without 
materially  interfering  with  the  proper  drainage  that  is  contem- 
plated. 

342 


Jackson  County  First. 

Martin  Institute  was  the  first  "endowed"  school  in  the  world. 

Jackson  county  was  first  to  manufacture  gins  in  upper  Georgia, 
—1820,  by  Mr.  Orr. 

First  to  have  an  Academy  solely  for  girls — 1824. 

First  to  use  an  anaesthetic,— by  Dr.  Crawford  AV.  Long,  March 
30,  1842.    Mr.  J.  M.  Venable  was  the  patient. 

First  to  produce  100  bushels  of  corn,— by  Master  Joe  Stone,  in 
1910. 

First  in  growing  the  finest  "short  staple"  cotton, — Talmo 
District. 

Thus  our  county  has  made  wonderful  progress  in  the  118  years 
of  its  existence,  but  greater  things  are  in  store  for  her  and  she 
will  attain  the  goal. 


343 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 
Los  Angeles 
ftEC't  Li  ■"'This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


^  2^m^^ 


■rV. 


a 
3 


NOV  2 


*£** 


SEC'D  ID-WS 


JUL121985 
MA«i.M;iB8UR 


TLCCST 


Tir!Pllr%r 


c<m? 


2?  WW 


FormLQ — 15m-10,'48(B1039)444 


UNTVEKSn  i  01  ^^ALlFORWlA 
AT 


Illlllllll 


3  1158  00407   9686 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILIT' 

imiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiji 

AA    000  695  668    4 


